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STELLA HOPE 



I 


STELLA HOPE 


BY 


EMILY WOODSON BARKSDALE 

'J 


New York and Washington 
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 




LIBRARY af CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 
JUN 4 »90^ 

^ Oopynfhf Entry 

^LASS CX, XXc,, No. 

COPY B. 


Copyright, 1907, by 
The Neale Publishing Company. 


STELLA HOPE 


I 



CHAPTER 1 


Stella Hope was a peculiar child, a fact 
scarcely to be wondered at by those who knew 
her father. She loved enthusiastically every- 
thing that was beautiful, though all unhand- 
some creatures had her tender pity. 

She loved nature in all her moods. If the 
glories of the setting sun inspired admiration, 
no less did the calm majesty of the rising moon, 
the blue of the midday sky, the deeper blue of 
the midnight. She watched the varied green of 
the waving trees and the many-colored flowers, 
but what especially filled her with delight was 
the sighing of the wind-swept pines, the bab- 
bling and gurgling of rock-fretted brooks, the 
matin songs of early awakened birds — and her 
father’s violin. 

Her pets were many and various, from the 
year-old colt Corydon and the white heifer, to 
the wee, blind mouse, and the cooing dove. 

She even loved the brown little pickaninny of 
Aunt Patsy, the cook, upon whom the said Aunt 
Patsy had proudly bestowed the uncommon ap- 
pellation of Polly-Cotty, a name she had treas- 
ured in memory since by chance she had 
caught the term poly cotyledon from a botany 
lesson recited by one of Mr. Hope’s nephews. 

Now these two cousins, George and Tom Has- 


8 


STELLA HOPE 


kins, orphan sons of Mr. Hope^s sister, were, 
except her father, the sole white companions of 
Stella. They were provided for and taught by 
Mr. Hope, and though older than his daughter, 
were her boon companions. Being a naturally 
quick child, she was put in a class with her 
cousins, and soon was able to conjugate her 
Latin verbs with much more facility than they ; 
but their superior understanding of algebra 
was to her an unfailing source of surprise and 
admiration. 

The boys were good-natured and never jeal- 
ous; but to her chagrin they would occasion- 
ally slip away from her for a ‘^hunt’’ or a 
‘‘fish,’’ though generally they allowed her to ac- 
company them; and she became quite expert 
with the rod and the gun. 

Whenever they left her in the lurch she would 
seek her father in his study, and chat with him 
as long as he was at leisure; for he was a 
scholar and passed much of his time among his 
books. But when he became preoccupied she 
would slip away noiselessly, and, calling Gala- 
tea (diminutive “Gal”), the two would run 
down to the clay bank in the rear of the stable, 
and there fashion images of clay, fearfully and 
wonderfully made, until the shrill voice of Aunt 
Patsy summoned the reluctant “Gal” to the 
squalling Polly-Cotty. 

Thus deserted, Stella would wander around, 
watching the antics of her pets, or playing with 
them. On this particular afternoon she was at- 
tracted by the splendid varieties of butterflies 


STELLA HOPE 


9 


hovering over the vari-colored larkspurs grow- 
ing in the newly harvested wheat-field. Never 
before had she seen so many gorgeous ones to- 
gether; and, desirous of showing them to her 
father, she, all unconscious of the harm she was 
doing to the beautifully painted wings, caught 
many of them in her capacious apron, and ran 
breathlessly to show them to her father. 

Mr. Hope was naturally dismayed when she 
released them in his study. The struggling, flut- 
tering creatures, despoiled of their brilliant 
colors, flitted brokenly everywhere among his 
books and papers, depositing upon them the 
loosened dust of their wings. He reproved his 
thoughtless daughter for the real cruelty of 
such a capture, and in conclusion he said for 
the ear of ‘^Gal,’^ who was washing dish tow- 
els at the kitchen door, 

‘‘Don’t let me hear again of any of you 
catching butterflies. If you do. I’ll — I’ll reckon 
with you!” which was about the worst threat 
that Mr. Hope usually uttered. 

“Humph!” remarked Gal as Stella reached 
her; “humph! I ain’t cotch me no butterflies 
dis year. I bet I goes out ter-night atter dark 
when de butterflies goes ter roost, an’ ketches 
me some butterflies, too!^^ a defiance prompted 
not so much by a real desire for the gorgeous 
insects as by a spirit of insubordination swell- 
ing in her sable bosom — a spirit fostered by the 
extreme leniency of Mr. Hope. 

Aunt Patsy suddenly thrust her head threat- 
eningly out of the kitchen window. 


10 


STELLA HOPE 


dat yo’ sayT’ she inquired, 
ain’ say nawthin’,” replied Gal, shame- 
lessly mendacious. 

‘‘Elf I hears any mo’ uv yo’ mouf, I’ll spank 
yo ’ black an ’ blue ! ” 

“Shucks!” giggled Gal to Stella as soon as 
they were beyond the maternal ears. “I’se 
black alriddy, an’ I loves ter be blew when I’se 
up in de tall trees a-wavin’ in de win’. Come 
on, Stella, while Polly-Cotty’s sleepin’, an’ le’ ’s 
go ride our saplin’ bosses.” 

Away they ran, rode their wooden horses to 
their hearts ’ content, and afterward went wad- 
ing in the creek ; all of which goes to show the 
free and untrammeled life that Stella led until 
she was twelve, when her father, recognizing 
that she was growing to be a large girl, began 
to restrict her running at will ; and, to keep her 
about the house, assigned her extra lessons in 
her Virgil, — a task by no means distasteful to 
her, for she was an enthusiastic lover of the 
Latin poet, whose beauties her father pointed 
out with great taste and discrimination. 

About this time he gave her a young squirrel, 
which she named Dido, in honor of the hapless 
Carthaginian queen — a name prophetic of the 
sequel, and to which the modifying adjective 
infelix might just as appropriately have been 
applied. 

A year passed. Stella grew taller and pret- 
tier; and as she was thrown more and more 
upon her father’s society there sprang up a 
greater intimacy than she had known before, 


STELLA HOPE 


11 


and she began to comprehend more fully his 
many accomplishments. 

About this time one of the boys gave her a 
battered old banjo, which she learned to play 
with considerable spirit, and which filled up 
many a gap between lessons. To her lively jig- 
tunes she would frequently have Polly-Cotty 
dance, at which times it would have been diffi- 
cult to say which was the more pleased — Stella, 
the pickaninny, or the proud mother. 

‘‘Boys,’’ said Mr. Hope on the summer morn- 
ing that his daughter was thirteen, “you may 
take holiday to-day if you like.” 

That they did ‘ ‘ like ’ ’ was shown by the alac- 
rity with which they made for their fishing 
tackle. 

‘ ‘ Oh, father, mayn’t I go too I ’ ’ begged Stella. 

Mr. Hope regarded his daughter a moment 
with a glance in which tenderness, commisera- 
tion, and determination were curiously blended, 
then he answered gravely, 

“No, my dear, not to-day. I have something 
to tell you this morning which must be deferred 
no longer. Come sit with me here ^Patulae suh 
tegmine fagi/ smiling sadly as he quoted 
from her Virgil, “and I will tell my brave little 
girl what I should have told her some while 
ago. ’ ’ 

Something in her father’s manner brought an 
indefinable chill, a foreboding, that passed mo- 
mentarily across the girl’s consciousness, but 
with the gay insouciance of youth she shook off 
the premonition and, laughing, said. 


12 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘Ah! father, you think I am too nearly a 
young lady to be tagging after George and 
Tommie. Is n ’t that iiV^ 

But to his daughter's consternation and dis- 
tress, Mr. Hope bowed his head upon her 
shoulder and wept — a sight which was entirely 
new to her. 

“Oh, father; oh, dearest father! what has 
happened? What have I done?’’ and in an 
agony of premature repentance she threw her- 
self upon his bosom and begged for pardon with 
protestations and promises of amendment. 

Her terror and grief were so excessive that it 
had the effect of steadying Mr. Hope. He 
pressed her tenderly in his arms, and gathering 
firmness he said, 

“My dear child, the comfort and joy of my 
lonely life, you have done nothing either to of- 
fend or distress me. It is only my solicitude 
for your future that makes me sorrow. ’ ’ 

Stella quickly raised her head, as a rain- 
freighted flower lifts its face to greet the re- 
turning sunshine. 

“Oh, how you frightened me!” she ex- 
claimed, laughing. “But why are you so dis- 
turbed about my future? Shall we not always 
be together, and do all we can for each other’s 
happiness ? ’ ’ 

Mr. Hope placed his hand tenderly on her 
head, answering slowly and reluctantly, 

“No; I must leave my little girl very soon. 
I have to take a journey to a far country, and I 
must go alone.” 


STELLA HOPE 


13 


father! why cannot I go with yon!’’ 
she said pleadingly. 

Would that it might be so, my child, but it 
cannot be.” 

‘ ‘ Why, father ; would it be much more expen- 
sive!” 

Mr. Hope paused a moment, regarding the 
upturned face earnestly and lovingly. Then he 
replied gravely and significantly, 

‘‘No, child, for this is a journey that we are 
all required to travel alone. No one, not even 
our dearest, can accompany us along this way. ’ ’ 

Stella’s eyes, which were gazing anxiously 
upon his face, were now growing larger and 
larger with comprehending terror, and an 
agony of distress. They took in what until this 
moment they had not discerned — the sunken 
eyes, the wasted and pallid cheek of disease. 
Having been accustomed to dwell only on the 
love-light of those eyes, she had, as would most 
children, failed to see the creeping shadow of 
death. 

Her passion of grief when she fully under- 
stood was pitiable to behold. It required all of 
her father’s philosophy, of which he had much, 
to calm her sufficiently to induce her to listen to 
him intelligently. 

“My child,” he resumed gently, when she at 
last lay passive against his arm, “you must not 
take it so hard. Remember it is the common 
lot, the inevitable end of all that which we call 
life. My father and mother went that way 
when I was a mere youth. Your sweet mother 


14 


STELLA HOPE 


left us eight years ago, and went alone, though 
I would have gone with her so gladly. Your 
time will come, and so on to the extinction of all 
life on this globe. Your youthful spirits will 
rally from this affliction, and you will walk the 
highway of life until you, too, shall reach the 
gates of death, after which, the reunion. It is 
of this journey through life that I wish to talk 
with you. I have long known that I could not 
live a great while. I shall go suddenly; and I 
must speak now. I have instructed you as best 
I could, though a man cannot do all for a child 
that its mother can. You will go to your Aunt 
Haughton — do not shrink, my child, she is a 
good enough woman at heart, even if she seems 
proud and cold. She agrees to take you when I 
am gone, and will do the best she can for you till 
you are old enough to make your own living, as 
I am afraid you will have to do, for I shall leave 
very little. 

^‘The companionship of your accomplished 
cousins will give the proper rounding to your 
education, even if you do not go to a finishing- 
school. Keep up your studies, and do not for- 
get what I have taught you. I know how fond 
you are of your Latin, — ^you will not negJect 
that, — and review the mathematics and the 
little Greek you have learned ; you may be able 
to continue it some day. There, there; donT 
cry so, my dear; I would not say all this if it 
were not necessary. As to your future con- 
duct — I know you will never do anything to 
shame your father’s memory, or precepts. 


STELLA HOPE 


15 


When you shall be grown, take heed lest yon 
rush into some nnconsidered attachment. I 
know your impulsiveness, so I charge you to he 
on your guard. Wait till your judgment is 
formed and prove that which is good. Observe 
always in your actions the golden rule. I know 
you are as innocent as a dove; try also to be 
wise as a serpent. And if any misfortune ever 
overtake you, or foul-mouthed calumny be- 
smirch you, which Almighty God forbid! trust 
Him to set you aright. 

^^Now, my child, there comes Dr. Bannerman; 
I must speak to him. ’ ’ He disengaged the hand 
that was clinging to his own, kissed the grief- 
convulsed face, and rose to meet his physician. 

Stella, blinded with tears, rushed out in the 
garden under the lilac-trees, and flinging her- 
self passionately upon the ground with face to 
the earth, wept and sobbed with heart-breaking 
sorrow. For hours she lay there, until the 
whoops of the successful fishers recalled her to 
the passing time, when she arose and slipped 
into her room to wash away all traces of her 
tears before again meeting her father. 

Day by day after this, with ever-increasing 
dread, she watched the growing pallor and 
feebler step of her father; silently — so far as 
words — ^watched; though he knew from the ex- 
pression of fear in her eyes and the tender, 
clinging touch of her hand what dread thought 
was ever in her mind. But he forbore to speak 
on the subject because of her violent grief when 
he had spoken to her of his death. 


16 


STELLA HOPE 


So it came to pass that he was at the brink of 
the dark river ere he or she could realize it. 
The boys had become strangely subdued, for 
Dr. Bannerman had informed them of their 
uncle’s condition, cautioning them against loud 
talking or boyish romping. 

They grew wonderfully kind to Stella, bring- 
ing her young birds, mice, and butterflies ; now 
and then awkwardly venturing upon a word in- 
tended for comfort, but which generally had the 
effect of sending her weeping to her room. 
Poor child ! those \^ere sad days, and during the 
long nights her pillow was wet with unre- 
strained tears. 

Then came a morning when her beloved 
father did not wake to the voice of love, and 
when the passing to and fro in the house was 
awed and hushed. 


CHAPTER II 


A pleasant afternoon in the month of May 
was drawing to a close in one of the Piedmont 
counties of the Old Dominion. Through the 
open windows of a large, stately and old- 
fashioned mansion floated in the cool breezes, 
laden with the fragrance of jessamine and 
honeysuckle which clustered in profusion upon 
the lattice-work of a long, colonnaded portico 
that looked toward the avenue of magnificent 
oaks, extending to a bridge nearly a quarter of 
a mile beyond. Away toward the southwest 
stretched the long, undulating chain of the Blue 
Ridge ; while to the rear an oak forest of sturdy 
giants gave to the once magnificent, hut now 
much diminished, estate the name of Oaklands. 

Here for generations the aristocratic family 
of the Haughtons had lived, ever growing more 
tenacious of caste as the family exchequer be- 
came more exhausted and the influence of the 
surviving members waned. 

This afternoon the whole family, the widowed 
mother and three daughters together, were en- 
gaged in characteristic occupations. The mo- 
ther, a handsome and dignified woman of forty- 
six or thereabout, was crocheting a doily. The 
clear complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair, as 
yet unsilvered, were pleasant to look upon ; and 
the well-formed mouth, with the strong white 


18 


STELLA HOPE 


teeth, would be so except for certain hard lines 
detracting from that softness which is one of 
the chief charms of middle age. 

Marie, the eldest-born, with twenty-two years 
struck otf from her mother’s age, was her 
mother over again — ^handsome, graceful, and 
haughty, but charming when she wished to 
please; with the same sub-stratum of cold cal- 
culation and veiled policy. She was examining 
some antique jewelry, ever and anon holding up 
a chain, a bracelet, or a brooch, and laying it 
apart or putting it back in the casket for future 
consideration. * 

Helen, the second daughter, was reclining in 
an armchair, reading. She most probably re- 
sembled her father, for there was no trace of 
the mother in the frank, laughing blue eyes, the 
rather short, honest nose, the slightly freckled 
complexion, and the light, waving brown hair. 
She was of less stately height than the other 
two sisters, and had occasionally been dubbed 
‘‘dumpy” by them, being themselves elegantly 
tall. But the hand with which Helen held the 
book, and the arm from which the loose sleeve 
had fallen away, might well serve as a sculp- 
tor’s model. 

Ethel, the youngest daughter, the acknowl- 
edged beauty of the family, was really beauti- 
ful; being exceedingly fair, golden-haired, just 
entering her nineteenth year, and but a few 
days emancipated from a fashionable boarding- 
school. She was occupied in trying over a new 
lot of popular songs. 


STELLA HOPE 


19 


‘^Your face is your fortune^’ had been so fre- 
quently said to her that she well knew she was 
beautiful. Her head was already filled with 
ideas of belledom and conquest, and she 
regarded physical perfection as the basis of 
woman’s influence. She had another rich en- 
dowment — a voice of exquisite sweetness and 
power, and now she was softly singing over the 
different airs before her with no especial pleas- 
ure in the music, but simply as a means toward 
a much desired end ; for it was expected of her 
to make a brilliant marriage and to restore the 
prestige of the family. She now turned toward 
the group, raised her arms wearily over her 
head, and exclaimed, 

‘ ^ Mercy on me ! how stupid you all are ! Beg 
your pardon, mother, I mean Marie and Nellie. 
I declare it is almost as dull as school. Let’s 
talk about the summer campaign. ’ ’ 

Marie took no notice of the reflection upon 
her powers of entertainment; Mrs. Haughton 
shifted her position uneasily, but remained 
silent. It was Nellie who laid down her book 
good-naturedly. 

Plans for the summer campaign! This, my 
dear Sis, can be disposed of in short order — 
canning fruits for the winter campaign, with 
probably a few diversions in the way of country 
picnics and informal dances. ’ ’ 

Ethel’s only response to Nellie was a glance 
of mingled anger and contempt. Then she 
turned to her mother ; but as the latter still con- 
tinued silent she said to her second sister, 


20 


STELLA HOPE 


^‘You may enjoy such diversions if you like, 
but you will not have me as a companion. 
Mama faithfully promised me that if I would 
practice my music and graduate she would give 
me the season at The White. DidnT you, 
mama? 

Thus directly appealed to, Mrs. Haughton, 
though accustomed to authoritative rule in her 
family, hesitated a moment uncertainly. 

did promise, my dear, and you have per- 
formed your part of the contract entirely to my 
satisfaction; but I have unwillingly been com- 
pelled to relinquish all idea of giving any of you 
a trip this summer. The failure of the wheat 
crop, the burning of a tobacco barn, and the 
distemper among the horses have crippled my 
resources to a great degree, and I cannot keep 
my promise to you. I trust you will bear the 
disappointment gracefully, my daughter, for 
you are so young you can afford to wait another 
year. ^ ’ 

Mrs. Haughton stopped speaking, astonished 
at the effect of her words ; for Ethel ’s face had 
been undergoing such rapid and marked transi- 
tions as to be almost alarming. First a flush, 
then paleness, and lastly a deep crimson of in- 
dignant anger, with a sudden flood of tears and 
lamentations. 

think it is too hard for anything! After 
being cooped up for a whole session in school 
I am to pass another year without seeing a liv- 
ing soul!’’ she sobbed. 

‘^Why, little Sis, you surely will not deny 


STELLA HOPE 


21 


souls to your mother and sisters, to say nothing 
of our good neighbors, the Joneses, the Smiths, 
and the Browns, ^ ’ laughed Nellie. 

‘‘Helen, be silent!’’ commanded her mother 
sternly. ‘ ‘ Of course, we can all understand her 
disappointment, and she cannot regret it more 
than I do. There, there, my dear, I hope you 
may yet have abundant opportunities to exer- 
cise your gifts and accomplishments. ’ ’ 

Up to this moment Marie had not spoken. 
Now she broke in with impetuosity. 

“I am sure it is not nearly so bad for Ethel as 
it is for me. She has all her belledom before 
her, while I have been on the tapis for several 
seasons.” 

“Let’s be accurate and say six,” interpolated 
Nellie. 

“For several seasons,” continued Marie, be- 
stowing no notice upon her sister, “and should 
be thinking of establishing myself. ’ ’ 

“A little thought upon so momentous a ques- 
tion would have been in order several seasons 
ago,” again ventured Nellie laughingly. 

“Helen, leave the room instantly!” said her 
mother sharply. 

“I will not say another word, mama.” 

“No; go at once!” And Nellie, always glad 
to avoid unpleasant scenes when she could not 
avert them, went out, leaving them to discuss 
and arrange the social and domestic affairs as 
best they could. 

Ethel, only half reconciled to the maternal 
arrangements, soon stepped out upon the por- 


22 


STELLA HOPE 


tico to meet the servant with the post-bag ; but 
Nellie was ahead of her and seized the budget. 

Kerens a letter for you, Ethel — two of 
them,^’ she said, in a conciliatory tone, but 
Ethel snatched them ungraciously. Nellie con- 
tinued. ^‘One for mama — none for me. As 
usual, a bridge is made of my nose ; no wonder 
you all call it flat,’’ and she went in, singing 
lugubriously, ^^No One to Love.” 

^‘Here’s a letter for you, mama, with the 
St. Louis postmark,” she said. 

‘ ‘ Dear me ! from whom can it be I ” and Mrs. 
Haughton hastily broke the seal and read. 
When she had finished it she said with some 
repressed excitement, 

‘‘Come here, girls, and listen. Do you re- 
member your cousin William Willoughby from 
the West, who made us a visit one summer, 
eleven or twelve years ago, with his son, young 
Will? I remember into how many escapades 
he led you, and I suppose you have a vivid re- 
membrance of it also. Well, his father died 
some years ago, and I heard he left the boy an 
immense property. This son has been terribly 
injured in a runaway accident and his phy- 
sicians declare his spine incurably affected. 
Will has, it seems, been bedridden most of the 
time since his accident, but is now able with the 
aid of crutches and a helping hand to hobble 
along a little. He remembers what he is pleased 
to term my charming home and Virginia hospi- 
tality, and wants to come, with his servant, and 


STELLA HOPE 


23 


companion — ^hired, I suppose — and stay as long 
as he finds it agreeable. ’ ’ 

‘‘A very modest request for one self-invited,’’ 
observed Marie laconically, and making no re- 
mark upon the accident of her cousin and old- 
time play-fellow. 

^^Poor, dear Will! bow very sorry I am to 
hear of his misfortune. I remember him per- 
fectly and how he used to say that when grown 
he intended to come hack and marry Marie. 
Poor fellow ! I sincerely hope his injuries may 
not be permanent,” said Nellie quickly. 

‘‘He has learned by some means,” Mrs. 
Haughton continued, “of my reverses, and de- 
clares he will not come unless I allow him to pay 
handsomely for board and all the trouble that 
he expects to give me. Of course, I must demur 
at remuneration — for form’s sake — ^but it will 
come in most opportunely” — 

“Oh, mama!” interrupted Ethel, her face 
aglow with expectation. 

Her mother nodded smilingly and continued, 
“He wishes to be on the first floor and his 
companion to have a room adjoining; but I 
scarcely see how I can give up more than one 
room to them downstairs. His servant will stay 
in the room with him, hut I have no room below 
stairs for the hired companion. ’ ’ 

“Why not roll the office close to the house, 
and cut a communicating door as they did at 
the Jones’s last summer,” suggested Nellie. 

“A most excellent idea! It shall be done at 
once. And, as a reward for the bright sugges- 


24 


STELLA HOPE 


tion, you shall have the pleasure of arranging 
the room, my daughter, ’ ^ said her mother, smil- 
ing approvingly. 

^‘And what shall be my reward?’^ asked Ma- 
rie, with some acrimony. Ethel is to have a 
season at The White; you have just named Nel- 
lie’s’’ — ^with an approach to a smile — ‘‘and I 
am the only one left out, it seems. ’ ’ 

“You shall have the reward of looking after 
the comfort and entertainment of Will while 
Nellie and myself are canning the fruits and at- 
tending to other household affairs,” answered 
her mother blandly. 

A long and animated discussion of projects 
and plans followed. Ethel was in raptures of 
delighted anticipation, Nellie was interested in 
her room furnishing for the companion of her 
cousin, and only Marie was the disgruntled ap- 
pointee. 

Mrs. Haughton, well pleased at the prospect 
of a handsome remuneration, seated herself to 
answer the letter, and to insist on the immediate 
coming of her young kinsman, his servant and 
companion, the last to be least considered in her 
estimation. 

“What a pity,” she remarked to Marie sig- 
nificantly, as she sealed the letter, “that Will 
did not come before he was injured.” 

For the ensuing ten days everything was in a 
state of commotion and anticipation. Marie 
hurried off to Baltimore to make selections for 
Ethel’s outfit, a dressmaker was summoned 
from the city, and Ethel was in a delirium of 


STELLA HOPE 


25 


delight when, on Marie’s return, the various 
articles were unfolded for inspection; but Nellie 
was her mother ’s faithful and efficient coadjutor 
in all that pertained to the coming of the ex- 
pected guests. 

The young heir’s apartment was made the 
most attractive and luxurious in the house; but 
that of the companion-friend was painfully 
bare, with its white-washed walls and its rickety 
furniture. 

must make it look very different from 
this,” Nellie had said, on entering upon her 
task; and now, as she was putting the finishing 
touches, she surveyed the room with much more 
pleasure. 

know he cannot help noticing the differ- 
ence and contrast, even yet,” she mused. ‘Ht 
must be a trying position if he he a gentleman. 
I ani afraid, through sheer sympathy, I shall 
like him the best, simply because Cousin Will 
wrote mama not to put herself to any particular 
trouble on his companion’s account. I do so 
dislike selfishness ; but I suppose all sick people 
are selfish for the time. It certainly was very 
kind of Cousin Will, and considerate, to send 
mama such a generous cheque in advance. Now 
these scrim curtains look cool and sweet, and 
this is a dear little table with my cover and the 
vase of flowers. I am almost sorry to part with 
it. The bureau and washstand are rather the 
worse for use, and several knobs are missing, 
but I daresay he will not mind that. This 
rocker is very comfortable if it does not fall 


26 


STELLA HOPE 


to pieces. I tried my best to make it secure. 
Perhaps I had best put a nail or two more 
in it. I wish the walls were not quite so bare, 
but I have taken nearly all of my pictures and 
robbed mama of one. I must beg her for just 
one rug. ’ ^ 

Thus she soliloquized, all unconscious of the 
attractive picture she herself made and how 
much her gentle consideration for the comfort 
of others was enhancing the beauty of her own 
countenance, made lovely with a far higher at- 
tractiveness than that of faultless features. 

^ ^ There ! ’ ’ she exclaimed suddenly, ‘ ‘ can they 
have arrived already?’’ and she ran out just 
in time to see a carriage drive up to the front 
door. 


CHAPTER III 


‘‘How painfully thin Will looks! There is 
scarcely a vestige remaining of the handsome 
boy of twelve years ago. Only his eyes, which 
I remember were a beautiful brown, retain any- 
thing whatever of a familiar expression to me, ’ ’ 
remarked Mrs. Haughton after her unfortunate 
kinsman, exhausted to the point of collapse, had 
been conveyed to his room. 

“He certainly has no pretensions to good 
looks now, ’ ’ said Marie carelessly. 

‘ ‘ Oh, Marie ! how can you even think of looks 
in connection with an almost dying manP^ ex- 
claimed Nellie reproachfully. “We should 
rather be considering how best we may contrib- 
ute to his comfort and recovery. Poor fellow! 
I fear he will never recover entirely. ’ ’ 

“Mr. Weston has the appearance and man- 
ners of a gentleman, although, as mama said, 
he is no doubt hired/ ^ remarked Ethel, twirling 
the rings upon her fingers. 

“Is the circumstance of his being hired en- 
tirely incompatible with his being a gentle- 
man P’ inquired Nellie; then added, “People 
have to do many things for a living nowadays 
that would not have been thought of before the 
war. ’ ’ 

“Just listen to Nellie’s democratic ideas!” 
said Marie scornfully. “I believe she would as 
lief be seen walking with Miss Lovell, our dress- 


28 


STELLA HOPE 


maker, as with the first lady of the land. I think 
Cousin WilPs companion has manners entirely 
too easy for one in his position, don’t you, 
mama I ’ ’ 

Marie thinks he ought to feel overwhelmed 
in her august presence ; but it is plain to me that 
whatever his present position, whether paid 
companion or not, he has the bearing of one 
accustomed to cultured society; and his per- 
sonal appearance is decidedly prepossessing,” 
retorted Nellie, always on the side of the at- 
tacked. 

‘‘Say no more on the subject, any of you,” 
commanded Mrs. Haughton. “I cannot atford 
to have Will offended through any discourtesy 
to his companion. Be always scrupulously po- 
lite to him without being familiar. You are not 
obliged to marry him, Marie, so it does not mat- 
ter one way or the other. I think, myself, his 
whole manner is a trifle independent ; but there 
is always a way to check advances. I repeat, 
be polite, but not familiar. ’ ’ 

It was an evening or two after this, when 
Mr. Weston was again under discussion, that he 
made rather an unexpected appearance. There 
was an awkward moment, no one knowing just 
how much — if any — ^he had heard of their con- 
versation. 

The matron was the first to recover herself as 
she remarked pleasantly : 

“Take a seat with us, Mr. Weston; it is pleas- 
anter out here on the portico.” And as he 
seated himself she continued: “I trust that 


STELLA HOPE 29 

Will may soon feel equal to joining us here 
also. ’ ’ 

‘^He is feeling more comfortable this evening 
than at any time since his arrival, and I trust 
that after he shall have recovered from the ex- 
treme fatigue of travel he will be better than 
at any time since his accident,’’ replied Mr. 
Weston, who had seated himself near Nellie. 

^‘Do his physicians despair of an absolute 
cure ? ’ ’ she inquired. 

^^None of them has ever said so in just so 
many words; neither have they held out any 
sanguine hope ; but they all recommended very 
careful attention, cheerful companionship, nour- 
ishing fare, and the avoidance of worry or 
undue fatigue. ’ ’ 

After a little desultory conversation in which, 
as an olla podrida, each one of the family threw 
in a scrap in the shape of a rather spiceless re- 
mark, the young man turned again to Nellie and 
said : 

‘‘Your cousin is passionately fond of music — 
especially vocal music — and desires me to ask 
one of you ladies to sing for him some of the 
old-fashioned songs.” 

“I sing not quite so well as a jay, but my 
younger sister here warbles like a nightingale 
and will be delighted to oblige him,” answered 
Nellie, laughing. 

‘ ‘ Most cheerfully, if my poor elf orts will con- 
tribute to his pleasure,” consented Ethel, in no 
wise averse to complying with the request, 
especially as the enforced restraint of the past 


30 


STELLA HOPE 


few days was becoming irksome. ‘‘Will he be 
able to hear ? ’ ^ she asked, rising to go in. 

“I have left the door ajar. He will not fail 
to hear the softest note,’’ replied the young 
man, rising also as if to attend her. 

“Pray don’t trouble yourself to attend me; 
I sing the old songs without notes; besides, it 
is so much pleasanter out here,” and she went 
in and began singing. 

As the first clear, liquid notes floated out on 
the summer air, Weston made a movement of 
surprise and pleasure; then he settled himself 
to enjoy it. 

But to the sick man upon his couch, who for 
months had heard no female voice in music’s 
witching strains, the effect was rapturous. To 
him the notes of the invisible singer appeared 
to float down from celestial heights, soothing 
and infusing new hope. For the first time since 
his misfortune tears gushed gratefully from his 
eyes, while an infinite longing to see the mu- 
sician took possession of him. 

“She must be good and beautiful to sing so 
soulfully as that,” he said to himself when at 
length she ceased ; and he closed his eyes, soon 
falling asleep in sweet peace. 

When Nellie and Ethel descended some morn- 
ings later the invalid had, at his own command, 
been attired and wheeled in his rolling-chair out 
upon the back piazza to enjoy the fresh and fra- 
grant morning air. He knew that this step 
would not have met with the approbation of his 
friend Weston, who had not yet appeared, but 


STELLA HOPE 


31 


he bowed smilingly to his cousins and holding 
out an emaciated hand said : 

^‘Come and shake hands with me, dear 
cousins, and allow a poor wreck of a man to re- 
new acquaintance after so many years. Con- 
fess, now, that you would never have known 
me.” 

‘^We are rejoiced to see you able to be out,” 
said Nellie feelingly. 

^‘Yes, indeed; I hope you are enjoying the 
roses,” added Ethel, looking as pretty as one 
of them. • 

‘ ‘ Enjoying ! it is like coming out of an inferno 
and entering into Paradise. It surely was an 
inspiration which brought me here. But which 
of you was it that has been charming away my 
pain with the sweetest music ever heard? Are 
you the Lorelei?^ ^ he questioned, looking at 
Ethel ’s golden hair. 

There was such tender, reverential admira- 
tion in his glance that she, who had been design- 
ing to sit unmoved while hosts of admirers 
should be bending before her, could not restrain 
a pleased blush as she replied : 

^^Ah! my cousin, I see that you have at least 
not forgotten the art of flattery. I am only a 
little country-bred maiden, a novice in the art of 
pleasing, ’ ’ and she smiled brilliantly at him. 

^^How wonderfully improved he seems since 
the day of his arrival,” remarked Nellie, apart 
to Weston, who at that moment appeared, and 
was regarding the invalid with amazement. 

‘‘Yes,” said Weston, with an affectionate look 


32 


STELLA HOPE 


toward him, have never seen such a change 
for the better come over any one as over him 
since he first heard your sister sing. ’ ’ 

^‘What a pity, then, that she is to leave home 
so soon,^’ said Nellie. 

‘‘Going away I when?” he asked in dismay. 

“To the White Sulphur Springs, next week, 
to remain two months.’’ 

‘ ‘ How bitterly disappointed and chagrined he 
will be, poor fellow ! Please do not let him know 
it any sooner than can be helped. I am afraid 
he would cease to improve if he knew it now. ’ ’ 

“Two months will not be so very long; but I 
will caution all not to speak of it if you think 
best.” 

“Do, please; it will be a real kindness.” 
Then he went forward to Will, while Nellie 
beckoned Ethel and asked her not to refer to 
her going away ; at which tribute to her powers 
of captivation she smiled condescendingly. 

Marie now came out and greeted the poor 
cripple with effusive cordiality. She reminded 
him of some of their youthful frolics, and then 
breakfast was announced, it being arranged 
that Will was to have his al fresco, and Ethel 
was detailed to keep him company, for he 
seemed loath to lose her from his sight. Ac- 
cordingly, remembering that to him she owed 
all her anticipated pleasure, she exerted herself 
to be as charming as possible. 

He insisted upon remaining on the piazza in 
company with his cousins, until at last Weston, 
observing how really feeble he was becoming. 


STELLA HOPE 


33 


motioned his servant, Nichols, and the two 
wheeled him into his room, notwithstanding his 
protests. 

‘‘My dear Weston, have a little more mercy 
on a fellow who has been so long penned within 
walls, ’ ’ he protested. ‘ ‘ Do let me enjoy myself 
a little longer. ’ ’ 

Ethel, chafing under her detention from the 
sewing-room, now hastened away to Miss 
Lovell, who was, metaphorically, up to her neck 
in ribbons, laces and gauzes. She had just put 
the finishing touches to a pale pink silk and 
chitfon creation, and when Nellie entered the 
room a few minutes later Ethel had robed her- 
self therein and was contemplating her beau- 
tiful image with great complacency. 

“ ‘Italia! 0 Italia! thou hast the fatal gift of 
beauty,’ ” quoted Nellie smilingly. 

“The fatality of any one’s beauty ought not 
to affect you, Nellie, since yours is of a kind to 
injure neither yourself nor anybody else,” re- 
torted Ethel with serene pertness. 

“Beauty is only skin-deep,” ventured the 
timid little dressmaker ; and then blushed at the 
liberty she felt herself convicted of taking. The 
arrogant young beauty made no comment ex- 
cept a supercilious lifting of the eyebrows ; but 
Nellie laughingly finished the adage, “ ‘and 
ugly is to the bone,’ a truism of which I never 
could find the comfort. ’ ’ Then turning to Ethel, 
“I suppose, my beautiful sister, there will not 


3 


34 


STELLA HOPE 


be the slightest chance of having my dress cut 
and fitted till yours are all finished?” 

suppose not,” replied that unselfish 
maiden laconically, still surveying her charming 
image. 

^‘But I could make it myself, if Miss Lovell 
could take the time to cut and fit it. I want it 
for church next Sunday.” 

^^But indeed and indeed. Miss Lovell will do 
no such thing, ’ ’ cried the younger sister angrily. 
‘‘Aunt Barrington is even now waiting, and 
urging mama to have me ready next week. 
Mama would not allow Miss Lovell to do it, even 
if I were willing, which I am not.” 

“All right, your royal highness; I can wait. 
I am thankful that my beauty is also of a kind 
that will keep, and does not require such fine 
toggery to enhance it.” Then she continued 
banteringly, “I say, Ethel, you have already 
made one conquest. Cousin Will has fallen in 
love with you. Mr. Weston declares that he 
seems to have taken a new lease of life since he 
first heard you sing; and he begs us all not to 
let him know of your intended absence, for fear 
of the blighting etfect. Mama would oppose 
your going if she knew. ’ ’ 

“Pshaw! Nellie, what utter nonsense,” ex- 
claimed Ethel, both pleased and fearful lest her 
trip might be shortened or postponed entirely. 

Weston took advantage of WilPs protracted 
sleep to go out on a squirrel hunt through the 
oak forest. But he had waited too late, the 
squirrels having all hidden away. 


STELLA HOPE 


35 


‘‘Shade of Nimrod! I have had enough of 
bootless tramping for one day,’’ he exclaimed, 
throwing otf his hat and coat before sinking into 
the comfortable rocker of which Nellie had de- 
prived herself. ‘ ‘ Confound the squirrels ! they 
have such a tantalizing way of hiding them- 
selves, and not even showing an eye. I will go 
earlier to-morrow. ’ ’ 

The next morning, as soon as he had seen Will 
comfortably disposed, he again took gun in 
hand and sauntered off for the woods; but the 
frisky denizens of the forest were as coy as on 
the previous day, and he turned his steps in 
another direction. 

Disgusted at last with his ill luck, he was 
turning about to retrace his steps homeward 
when his quick ear caught the sound of music. 
In much surprise he looked around in every 
direction, but could perceive no sign of the mu- 
sician. A moment later he distinguished sounds 
of gleeful laughter. 

“What can it mean in this secluded spot?” he 
asked himself, and listened intently. He found 
that the sounds came from behind a hedge of 
shrubs, briers and wild grapevines which, like a 
green wall, followed the course of a small wood- 
land stream. 

This wall was apparently impenetrable by 
even so small a creature as a rabbit ; but follow- 
ing it a short distance, Weston came to a place 
where the briers were less dense, and forced 
through without being badly scratched. Creep- 
ing a few paces down the stream he soon arrived 


36 


STELLA HOPE 


at a point where by parting the foliage of a 
grape-vine he conld command a view of the 
environment beyond vd.thout exposing himself. 

The scene which he now looked upon might 
well be the haunt of elves and fairies. 

The stream which rippled and gurgled over 
large boulders, gray with moss, formed here 
and there pellucid pools and tiny cataracts. It 
was bounded on the side he now approached 
by a beautiful and secluded meadow, green and 
smooth as velvet, where daisies, buttercups, and 
other flowers bloomed; and the plashing of the 
waters over the rocky bed formed a running 
accompaniment to the twitterings of the birds 
and the humming of bees among the flowers. 

But the occupants of this sylvan scene ! Wes- 
ton came near betraying his presence by a loud 
whistle of astonishment. 

Seated upon a rock not a dozen paces away 
was a young girl, under the protecting canopy 
of wild honeysuckle, clad in a robe of some 
flimsy white material, arranged to fall in classic 
folds around her form and loosely cinctured at 
the waist with a girdle of the honeysuckle, while 
upon her abundant, dark, flowing hair rested a 
chaplet of oak leaves. 

In lieu of the classic lyre that should have 
accompanied this garb she held in her hands a 
much-battered old banjo. Her shapely arms 
were bare to the elbow, where the long angel 
sleeves’’ fell away. Her face, as she now turned 
it in his direction, was not actually beautiful, 
though giving promise of beauty, but was bright 


STELLA HOPE 


37 


with intelligence and beaming with mirth. Her 
well-shaped month was relaxed with laughter 
and the dark gray eyes were sparkling with life 
and health. She looked to he about fifteen. 

The attendants of the girl were astonishingly 
bedizened. The whole coterie seemed a blend- 
ing of ancient mythology with the most gro- 
tesque of modern appurtenances. This coterie 
consisted of a dozen little negroes of both sexes, 
designed, no doubt, to represent Pan, with the 
fauns and satyrs. They were all at this mo- 
ment dancing with great abandon to the tones of 
the cracked banjo, manipulated with no unskil- 
ful hand by the presiding genius of the meadow. 

The gay freedom of the girPs attitude, her 
evident enjoyment of the mock mythics, de- 
lighted the amused beholder, giving token of a 
young life as yet unbroken to the artificial con- 
ventions of society. 

At this instant a piece of rock against which 
the young man was leaning gave way, and with 
a loud, crashing sprawl he fell, his gun explod- 
ing at the same moment. Picking himself up as 
quickly as he could, he looked round in great 
alarm to see if he had killed or wounded any of 
the revelers ; but he was amazed to find the 
meadow as silent and deserted as if it had never 
been trodden by human foot. If the earth had 
suddenly opened and swallowed them up the 
disappearance could not have been more com- 
plete. 

‘‘Whew! am I dreaming, or did I just see 
a wood-nymph*? A bewitching picture ! I won- 


38 


STELLA HOPE 


der who she can be! Some rustic maiden with 
a smattering of mythology, I suppose. Well 
for her that Comus instead of Melpomene was 
the patron deity, or there might have been a 
tragic ending to the sport, ’ ’ and laughing at the 
absurdity of the whole scene he was in the act 
of beating a retreat when his glance fell upon 
the banjo which the girl, in her hasty flight, had 
dropped upon the ground. 

^‘Ha! I shall have a clue; Cinderella’s slip- 
per! Shall I wait till she returns for it and 
compel her, as the price of its restoration, to 
declare her identity! or shall I keep it and trace 
her by means of it! That will be the better 
plan. ’ ’ 

^ So, lifting the abandoned instrument, he car- 
ried it home, taking care to slip into his room 
unobserved. 


CHAPTER IV 


‘ ^ Will I find my Dryad again T ’ Weston asked 
himself the next morning as he started out for 
the woods and felt more interest in the explora- 
tion of the forest than before. It was, there- 
fore, with extreme cantion that he approached 
the spot where he had seen the young girl, but 
the place was" silent and deserted. Had he 
frightened her away? With an unaccountable 
feeling of disappointment, Weston stood medi- 
tating awhile over the circumstance, and then 
turned a trifle sadly away into the wood. He 
took a different route homeward, and had 
neared the edge of the forest when, glancing up, 
he espied a squirrel perched in full view upon a 
limb of a huge oak inclining somewhat as if, in a 
storm, it had been bent. Quickly bringing his 
gun into position he fired, and the little creature 
fell to the ground. 

He was stepping forward to pick it up, when 
from behind the bole of the tree there sprang a 
young girl, and caught up the wounded squirrel. 
It was quivering in the last throes of death, and 
as she realized this the tears fell from her eyes 
and she cast upon the slayer a glance of bitter 
reproach. 

‘‘Oh ! sir, how could you, how could you? 

The bright blood was welling from the heart 
of the little victim and was staining her hands ; 
but she gave no heed to that. Convulsive sobs 


40 


STELLA HOPE 


were shaking her frame as she repeated, ^‘How 
could youT’ 

Weston was struck with remorse for his act; 
and stepping quickly toward her, he said feel- 
ingly: 

‘‘‘I entreat your forgiveness; I assure you I 
thought it a wild squirrel. I would almost as 
soon have shot myself. ’ ’ 

There was so much genuine regret in his tone, 
so much distress, that she could utter no other 
word of reproach. In her sorrow she stood en- 
tirely unconscious of herself, her whole mind 
concentrated upon the now lifeless little animal 
in her hand. 

‘‘Don’t cry,” he said kindly, “I will ransack 
the whole wood for another to take its place. 
I will engage every negro boy on the plantation 
to procure you one,” but she burst into fresh 
sobs. 

“Oh! if you could give me a thousand, not 
one could take the place of my poor Dido. No 
other could be the same to me. ’ ’ 

“Why so?” 

“Because — ^because my dear father gave it to 
me not long before he died; and — and it knew 
and loved me so. ’ ’ 

Despite his deep regret, he could not repress 
a smile. Dido! the name instantly explained 
the mythological scene of the previous day. 
“See,” he said tenderly, “your hand is all 
stained with blood. Allow me to wipe it off, and 
to relieve you of the poor little body”; but she 
held it the more tightly. 




STELLA HOPE 


41 


‘ ^ Then let me help bury it. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ It may not be quite dead, ^ ’ she replied, turn- 
ing it over in her hand. 

‘^Ah! yes, it will never breathe again,’’ at 
which confirmation her tears fiowed again. 

He took the dead pet from her reluctant hand, 
wiping her fingers tenderly with his handker- 
chief as he did so. 

‘‘Where do you wish it interred?” he in- 
quired as solemnly as if it had been a dead child. 

“Here,” she answered, walking behind the 
tree. He followed, then paused in some sur- 
prise at her ingenuity; for beneath the bent 
trunk of the great tree there sprang a wild 
grape-vine, and from its contorted stock she had 
fashioned a rude but comfortable seat, the com- 
fort further enhanced by a broad shingle uphol- 
stered with grass, while the back was inter- 
woven with pliant twigs — the whole as inviting 
as a wicker chair. The bole of the tree, aided by 
the foliage of the vine, was a screen against 
observation. On the other side hung a bottle of 
ink, and on the seat lay an open Virgil with a 
slip of paper containing a few lines neatly 
scanned. 

“This spot,” she explained with a sorrowful 
and modest smile, “I have named my study, and 
in good weather I pass a good deal of my time 
here. And here I wish poor little Dido 
buried” — a suppressed sob. 

He looked for something with which to dig 
the grave. 

“Ah! this will serve admirably.” Picking up 


42 


STELLA HOPE 


a sharp-pointed stick and setting to work he 
soon dug a hole a foot deep in the soft, loose 
earth. He then silently paused, indicating that 
all was ready. 

‘‘Wait a moment,’’ she said, and reaching up 
into a hollow of the tree she drew thence a box 
of writing material, and emptying it upon the 
seat she handed the box to him. He drew out 
his handkerchief for a winding sheet. 

“Any obsequies!” he asked with much as- 
sumed gravity. 

“ No, ” she replied with all seriousness. “We 
are taught that animals have no souls; but I 
think some of them have more than some 
people. ’ ’ 

He looked at her in surprise. The slight 
soupgon of incipient cynicism in the remark 
struck him as strangely odd in one so young. 
Was it merely a remark of thoughtless youth, 
or had the girl already, through unpleasant con- 
tact with soulless natures, received a shock to 
faith and trust! He would probe this matter. 
He was about to lower into its untimely grave 
the mortal remains of the namesake of the Car- 
thaginian queen when, with a piteous look, the 
young ^irl held out her hand for it. He sur- 
rendered it, and she took a last farewell of the 
little pet she had loved so well. He waited in 
perfect reverence, and when she returned it to 
him, calmer and more resigned, he proceeded 
with the interment. When he had finished he 
paused and looked earnestly upon her. 


STELLA HOPE 


43 


‘‘Do you think,’’ lie asked, “that it is safe for 
you to pass so much of your time here alone ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, I suppose so; I have never thought 
about it; I am so near home, and then some of 
the little darkies are nearly always within call. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Is that your home there ? Is Mrs. Haughton 
a relative ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, my father’s sister. I have lived there 
two years; ever since my father’s death,” and 
at the mention of that father the quick tears 
flowed afresh from her eyes. 

“Why have I not seen you before!” he asked, 
surprised. 

“Because I have been away on a visit. I 
returned only two days ago. ’ ’ 

“Why have I not seen you at meals, at least, 
since your return ! ’ ’ 

She blushed and hung her head. “I do not 
like to go among strangers, ” in a low voice. 

“But why!” 

‘ ‘ Oh, because I have seen so few in my life. ’ ’ 

“So much the more reason you should meet 
them now.” 

“And then — and then — ” she hesitated. 

“Then what!” he asked. 

“Because my aunt and Cousin Marie say I 
have no manners, ’ ’ with deep humility. 

“Humph I I have not perceived the de- 
ficiency,” laughed he. Then with a glance of 
interest he inquired, “Are you happy there!” 

“I would not be if it were not for Cousin 
Nellie. Cousin Marie has lovely manners — 
when there’s company, and Ethel’s singing is 


44 


STELLA HOPE 


so lovely, but I am — ^not very happy anywhere 
since I lost my father/’ 

^^Poor child! Will you let me be a friend 

She looked with tear-wet eyes searchingly 
into his own, and then evidently satisfied, 
frankly gave him her hand. 

‘‘Yes; I have so few,” she said simply. 

“I hope you will not hate me for Dido’s 
death.” 

“No; oh, no; it was not your fault,” and 
there above the tomb of the lost pet the com- 
pact was sealed — the establishment of a friend- 
ship born of sorrow, sometimes the sweetest 
and purest that can cheer human life. 

A bell rang sharply at this moment from the 
rear of the Haughton mansion. She started. 

“Dear me! I didn’t know it was so late. 
Aunt Kate will be angry. The cucumbers and 
tomatoes are still to be sliced,” and without 
another word she turned and ran rapidly home- 
ward, while Weston turned also and went an- 
other way. 


CHAPTEE V 


During Weston’s absence Will Willoughby 
bad directly disobeyed bis injunctions in regard 
to resting. He bad bimself wheeled to tbe most 
sbady corner of tbe veranda and bad invited 
Etbel to bear bim company. 

Tbougb unwilling to lose time from tbe dress- 
making, sbe smilingly complied, asking in ber 
most dulcet tones wbat sbe could do for bis 
entertainment. 

^^Read to me,” be replied; adding, know 
that one wbo can sing with such sweetness and 
expression must necessarily read well. ’ ’ 

So sbe brought tbe poet of bis selection — 
Browning — and took ber seat beside him. 

With ber thoughts engrossed in tbe sewing 
and Miss Lovell, sbe did not at all enter into 
tbe spirit of tbe poem be selected, and she 
failed utterly in that sympathetic quality which 
rendered ber singing so delightful. 

It was a disappointment to ber auditor, and 
ceasing to pay more attention be fell to watch- 
ing ber beautiful face, and musing. 

He was entirely too honest to compliment 
ber on an accomplishment which sbe did not 
possess, but be half chid bimself for expecting 
too much. A few questions skilfully put re- 
vealed to him tbe scantiness of ber literary at- 
tainments; but for this be made ample allow- 


46 


STELLA HOPE 


ance in his own mind as due to her youth and 
her very recent emancipation from school. 

Just then Nellie came out with a request from 
Miss Lovell for Ethel to come and try on a 
dress ; and the latter, inwardly delighted at the 
summons, excused herself and hastened to occu- 
pation more congenial. 

Nellie took her place as entertainer of the 
invalid; but he, feeling disinclined for con- 
versation, requested her to read a selection of 
her own from the volume. She turned at once 
to ^‘The Fireside,” and had proceeded only a 
few stanzas when his interest revived; for he 
recognized now, not merely the external form, 
but the real soul of poetry. 

Her voice was round and full, her intona- 
tions perfect; her meaning intelligent. She 
read, toward the close, 

“ ‘You might have turned and tried a man, 

Set him a space to weary and wear, 

And prove which suited more your plan, 

His best of hope, or his worst despair. 

Yet end as he began.’ ” 

‘^Ah!” he interrupted bitterly, ^‘how many 
there are of that kind ! ’ ’ 

She continued, 

“ ‘But you spared me this, like the heart you are. 

And filled my empty soul at a word — 

If two hearts join, there is oft a scar. 

They are one and one, with a shadowy third, — 

One near is one too far.’ ” 

‘One near is one too far,’ he repeated 
slowly. “That is very true. I would not prize 


STELLA HOPE 


47 


a heart that was not wholly mine, would you, 
Cousin r’ 

don’t know,” she answered, laughing. 
suppose we all think that; but is there really 
such a blissful state as that in which two hearts 
beat as one?” 

^‘Ah! I see that you have never loved,” he 
replied, smiling. 

‘^Oh! but you are mistaken. The summer 
after I left school I fancied myself very much in 
love. ’ ’ 

‘^Fancied! Love does not fancy, it knows/ ^ 
see,” she returned, ^^you think you have 
experienced the gentle passion.” 

He smiled sadly but did not reply. She hast- 
ened to add lightly, believed myself irre- 
trievably in love, and mama’s frowns and com- 
mands were as nought, till on one occasion I 
saw him slightly intoxicated. That circum- 
stance overthrew my idol instantly.” 

‘‘Sensible girl! You have my unbounded re- 
spect,” he answered, smiling. 

“I flattered myself that I already possessed 
that. Shall I read more?” 

Then he gave her “Rabbi Ben Ezra” as a test 
of her poetic intuition, and was pleased with her 
rendition. She now laid the book aside and 
they talked about the shaping circumstances of 
a career, and kindred subjects. 

Will was too much interested to be conscious 
of how much he was becoming physically ex- 
hausted, until Weston appeared and unhesitat- 
ingly wheeled him off to his room. 


48 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘I was just learning how to read/’ he said 
reproachfully. 

‘ ‘ That is all very well, but you must not take 
too long lessons until you are well enough, ’ ’ re- 
plied Weston. am not surprised that you 
find Miss Helen so much more intellectual than 
her sisters, and I venture to say that she is in- 
finitely more amiable.” 

If the Haughton family, with the exception of 
Nellie, considered it an imperative duty to ad- 
minister to their wealthy young cousin’s enter- 
tainment, as well as to his physical comfort, 
they by no means held themselves responsible 
for that of his companion, since the latter, they 
argued, no doubt received ample monetary com- 
pensation from the invalid for all his services. 
Accordingly, they left him to find entertainment 
in his own fashion. 

Marie and Ethel, pursuant to their mother’s 
hint, always, as it were, held him at arm’s 
length; treating him with cold but elaborate 
courtesy at meals and other formal gatherings 
of the family, or when meeting casually bestow- 
ing upon him a passing remark, sonjewhat as 
one might cast broken fragments to a mendi- 
cant. But Nellie, whom her mother and two 
sisters called ‘ ^ too democratic, ’ ’ exerted herself 
to cover up the lack of cordiality on the part 
of the others, and bestowed upon him at all 
times the same free, genial sunshine of her 
presence as upon the man of wealth. 

It is small wonder, then, that each day he be- 


STELLA HOPE 


49 


came the silent ally and admirer of her unsel- 
fish nature. 

With regard to Stella — when she appeared at 
meals or elsewhere in his presence, she rarely 
spoke to Weston if her aunt or cousins were by; 
but when he met her roaming around in the 
lawn or alone on the porches she exhibited a 
trusting friendliness that was very sweet and 
grateful to him. Neither he nor she had ever 
alluded to the lost banjo ; but he had ordered a 
beautiful new one to take its place. 

Eor some unrecognized reasons he still re- 
tained the old instrument, which he had locked 
away from the eyes of prying servants. The 
new one came a few days after the incident of 
Dido’s death, and Stella, seizing the package 
before any of the family saw it, bore it won- 
deringly to her room and opened it in a flutter of 
expectation ; but she was totally unprepared for 
the delightful surprise that awaited her. 

An ecstatic exclamation burst from her lips 
as, with great care, she lifted it from its case. 
But when she found it an actual reality, and 
heard the vast superiority of tone, she hugged it 
to her heart as if fearing lest in some way it 
might elude her grasp. 

Oh, days of youthful fervor and enthusiasm ! 
how often, when the gathering years chill our 
sensibilities and cheapen our possessions, do we 
look back on the sweet spring-time of life and 
recall with aching hearts how little it then took 
to make us happy ! 


4 


50 


STELLA HOPE 


In ineffable delight she ran her fingers over 
the strings, untuned as they were, but sweeter 
far than the wood-notes of her feathered 
friends, or the wind-swept pines — daughter of 
nature though she was. 

Who the donor might be she could not divine, 
and she hoped that her aunt might not ask 
her anything about the package; for if ques- 
tioned she would be obliged to declare that she 
did not know whence it came, a statement that 
she feared her relatives would not credit. 

It was therefore with much trepidation that 
she took her seat at the tea-table, and her very 
agitation brought about what she most dreaded ; 
for in passing a cup of tea she overturned it, 
spilling a portion of the contents on the cloth, 
thereby attracting her aunt’s attention and 
drawing upon herself a disapproving frown. 

‘^By the way, Stella, what was in the package 
brought you this afternoon,” asked that lady, 
suddenly. 

Thus directly interrogated, Stella was silent 
for a moment. She looked beseechingly at her 
aunt with a glance which plainly said, Please 
don’t ask me.” But there was no mercy in the 
returning glance of those cold eyes. 

‘‘Well!” in the same tone, but the girl un- 
derstood it to be a command. 

“It was a banjo,” replied Stella with suffused 
cheeks and faltering voice. 

“A banjo!” came from three of the ladies, 
with an intonation of as much surprise as if she 
had said an elephant. It was in vain that she 


STELLA HOPE 


51 


protested she did not know who had sent it. At 
last, when Mrs. Haughton said, ^ ‘ Then I cannot 
allow you to keep it,” Stella admitted that it 
had occurred to her that her cousin and quon- 
dam classmate, Tom, might have sent it. 

When the subject was dropped it was a relief 
to Weston, who was glad to let it be believed for 
the present that Stella ’s cousin was the donor. 

The matter, however, was not entirely dis- 
missed from Mrs. Haughton’s mind; for after 
tea, when they were all upon the portico, she 
turned to Stella and said. 

Since you have been presented with a banjo, 
that is presumption strong that you play upon 
it. Go bring it and let us hear you play. ’ ^ 

The diffident girl begged tearfully to be ex- 
cused, declaring that she could only play a few 
simple dance-tunes, and those by ear. 

‘^No matter, do the best you are able. It is 
useless to have an accomplishment unless it be 
put to some use. ’ ’ 

^ ^ Do, Stella dear ; of course none of us expect 
you to play like a professional. Forget your 
audience and play just as if you were out in the 
woods alone,” said Nellie encouragingly; and 
Stella, moved by the awful fear lest a non-com- 
pliance might result in the confiscation of the 
beloved instrument, went to bring it. 

Marie took the occasion of the girPs absence 
to expatiate upon her country-bred manners and 
the absurdity of Mr. Hope’s method of educat- 
ing his daughter as if he had intended to make a 


52 


STELLA HOPE 


college professor of her. Weston listened in- 
dignantly. 

Stella, returning, sat down with the determin- 
ation to do her very best, and she played her 
simple repertory with spirit, winning from her 
aunt the commendation, ^‘Well, something may 
be made of you yet. ’ ’ 

The next day when she took the banjo to the 
woods in order to enjoy ^perfect freedom, she 
caught sight of a small white object half hidden 
in the foliage above her head. It was a folded 
slip of paper, and opening it she eagerly read, 

‘^Please accept the banjo as a poor substitute 
for your unfortunate pet. With the hope that it 
may be a source of much pleasure to you, I am 
‘ ‘ Sincerely your friend, 

Weston.’’ 


CHAPTEE VI 


‘‘Ethel, go sit with Will while Nellie finishes 
her breakfast,” said Mrs. Hanghton several 
days later; for it had now fallen almost exclu- 
sively to her second daughter to fill the post of 
entertainer to the invalid; for Ethel always 
pleaded her engagements with Miss Lovell, and 
Marie pleaded nothing but indifference. 

Ethel made a wry face at Nellie, saying in an 
undertone, 

“Do come as quickly as you can, Nell ; I am so 
awfully busy. ’ ’ 

But the next moment, as she looked at the 
maimed sufferer, something prompted her to 
say in a kindly tone, 

“How are you, my Cousin, to-day? May I 
come and bore you a little with my chatter?” 

Her vanity was tickled at the sudden illumin- 
ation of his face. 

“Oh! do come, and the sound of your voice 
will charm away black melancholy, ’ ’ and he held 
out his hand in greeting. 

“Shall I read to you again this morning?” 

“No, I prefer to talk with you awhile. Some 
other time you may read to me if you will ’ ’ 

She felt a trifle constrained, remembering 
what Nellie had said concerning her departure. 

“Why are you melancholy?” she asked 
thoughtlessly. 


54 


STELLA HOPE 


He looked at her a moment in astonishment 
ere he asked, 

^‘Ho you question whyT^ and the mounting 
blood slowly crimsoned his pale cheek. ^ ^ So far 
as all the pleasures of life are concerned, and 
all that makes life worth living, do you not per- 
ceive that I had far better be dead than drag- 
ging out a maimed, humiliating existence 1 Is it 
nothing to remain ever an object of pity — ^per- 
haps of contempt ? ’ ’ 

This was the first time that she had heard 
him allude to his misfortune, and as the uncon- 
scious pathos of the speaker fell on her unac- 
customed ear she was touched in proportion to 
the shallowness of her nature. She attempted 
consolation, but in her inexperience, bungled, 
and he winced. 

u There,’’ he said, ‘^let us never speak of it 
again. I would not sadden my friends with my 
personal afflictions. Let us talk of something 
more pleasant — ^yourself. You will be here all 
summer?” 

In the face of the direct question and her de- 
parture only three days off, she could not de- 
ceive him. But she hesitated to such a degree 
that he said, 

^‘Ah! you are going, then,” but not with 
quite the desolation she had expected. 

Greatly relieved, though piqued, she plunged 
at once into an animated account of all the 
glories of belledom at Virginia’s far-famed 
summer resort. 


STELLA HOPE 


55 


‘‘And yon will return no longer the unsophis- 
ticated maiden, but a full-fledged belle?’’ 

She laughed in a pleased way. 

“Oh! I have no such lofty aspirations,” she 
answered in a tone that implied exactly the con- 
trary. 

“Is such an aspiration lofty!” he asked 
dryly. 

“It is, at least, what all girls most ardently 
desire. ’ ’ 

“All the pretty ones, probably.” 

“Yes, all the pretty ones,” she pouted; add- 
ing, “It doesn’t matter greatly what the ugly 
ones desire, since they rarely obtain their 
wishes in that line. ’ ’ 

He was tempted to answer impatiently; but 
restrained himself, and asked, 

“What am I to do in your absence!” 

“Oh! you will have Nellie and Marie.” 

‘ ‘ True ; I had almost forgotten. Perhaps you 
will come back with a whole retinue of admirers, 
or maybe the conquering hero, to ask mama’s 
consent. ’ ’ 

“No, sir,” gleefully, “I am going this season 
merely for a good time. And I do not intend 
for many seasons to come to resign my liberty. ’ ’ 

“Perhaps you intend to extend your con- 
quests to the utmost limit, and when there are 
no more to vanquish, accept matrimony as a 
dernier resort/^ he said. 

“How naughty of you!” she exclaimed, pout- 
ing, but pleased. 


56 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘I would like to see you in all your panoply 
of war, ’ ’ he remarked. 

‘‘Would you, really,’’ she cried delightedly, 
“then you shall,” and that very evening, after 
tea, she arrayed herself in a very fetching cos- 
tume and came to the parlor for the encomiums 
of the assembled company. 

“Ah!” exclaimed Will, in unfeigned admi- 
ration, “ribbons and laces will avail more to 
bring down our sex than all the arms and muni- 
tions of Mars. Is it not so, Weston I” and he 
who had no especial cause for liking the 
haughty beauty was compelled to give expres- 
sion to some compliments, for he could not 
deny, as far as features were concerned, that 
she was beautiful. These the recipient treated 
with a half-disdainful, half-pleased condescen- 
sion which was lost neither upon Will nor his 
friend. 

At this moment the glance of Weston was 
turned to Stella, and he perceived that she was 
regarding her cousin with intense ‘admiration. 
He casually drew near her and asked, 

“Do you not think her beautiful?” 

“Oh! just too lovely for anything. I wish I 
were just like her.” 

With a silent “Heaven forbid!” he simply 
asked, 

“WLy?” 

“Because she is so beautiful,” clasping her 
hands ecstatically. 

“But beauty isn’t everything, is it?” 

“No-o, I suppose not, but — ^but — ” 


STELLA HOPE 


57 


‘^But what?” 

Then Stella, becoming suddenly self-con- 
scions, slipped away behind her dear Nellie. 

Ethel was much chagrined that Will’s admir- 
ation did not keep pace with her increased ef- 
fulgence; for each time that she reappeared in 
a new creation his admiration seemed to wane. 

Man is an inconsistent animal. Will could not 
but acknowledge that she was very beautiful, 
but the demon of suspicion had suggested to his 
mind that under the fair exterior there were 
vanity, pride, and worldly ambition, things ex- 
tremely distasteful to his refined sensibilities. 

At last, Ethel, too conscious of her charms 
to care greatly for the admiration of one so en- 
tirely hors de combat as a poor cripple, turned 
to him and remarked, 

‘‘Cousin Will, I perceive that your artistic 
taste is not satisfied. Tell me the fault and I 
will have it corrected. ’ ’ 

“I find no fault with your costumes/^ he re- 
plied, with unmistakable emphasis. 

“Oh! then, it is with myself/’ and, sweeping 
him a disdainful curtsy, she turned away 
without vouchsafing him another glance. She 
had an intuition of what was passing in his 
mind, and suspected that the feeling was 
prompted by jealousy. Her cheek fiushed scar- 
let with anger that he, a maimed creature, 
should dare charge her with imperfections, or 
have any thought of her in connection with him- 
self. 

“I have been too complaisant toward him. 


58 


STELLA HOPE 


but he certainly shall not have that to complain 
of again/’ she vowed to herself as she put off 
the gown that she had donned with so much sat- 
isfaction. 

Thereafter she was cold and distant ; neither 
was there an entire reconciliation before her 
departure, which occurred some days later. 

‘ ^ I suppose you will look down on your hum- 
ble admirer here when you return, ’ ’ he said, as 
she extended her hand at parting. 

^‘If I see him at all, I suppose I shall have to 
look down on him,” she retorted cruelly, and 
turned away carelessly, not noticing or caring 
how deeply the retort wounded him. 

Three weeks had passed since Ethel’s depar- 
ture — almost one-half of the period her mother 
had allotted for her stay — a period which upon 
the first intimation of such an absence Will 
would have regarded as almost interminable. 
But now, looking back, he found it the extremest 
folly that he should have so much cared. 

The blankest indifference had succeeded to 
that short-lived penchant ; and when her letters 
would arrive, filled ad nauseam with accounts 
of her great popularity, he listened with an ex- 
pression akin to the saturnine, secretly hoping 
the sojourn of the frivolous and shallow girl 
might be doubly prolonged. Then he would turn 
with a sigh of contentment to the smiling face 
of Nellie, that, if not so beautiful, yet was to 
him far more attractive. 

Stella still passed a good portion of her lei- 


STELLA HOPE 


59 


sure in her sylvan retreat. One forenoon she 
had practiced upon her banjo till her fingers 
were blistered, when with tender care, replacing 
it in its case, she exclaimed, 

‘ ^ Oh ! how much I would like to be doing some- 
thing in the way of improving myself ! and yet 
I do not know where to begin. 1 am afraid I 
shall never have any more education. Oh! if 
I just could go off to some fine school and learn 
everything j how happy I would be.’’ 

Taking up a large volume, she continued, 
‘‘This is a big book, but I’m going to read 
every word of it ; then I will read others. ’ ’ 

For half an hour she pored over the open- 
ing chapter steadily ; but at the close she felt far 
from satisfied with the acquisition of the knowl- 
edge she had gained. 

“Heigh ho! I suppose if I stick to it long 
enough, I shall understand it after a while, 
and then — ” 

Her soliloquy was at that moment cut short 
by a loud bark almost immediately beside her, 
and being more afraid of dogs than anything 
else in the world, she sprang to her feet and, in 
an agony of terror, could only lean faint and 
motionless against the trunk of the tree. 

The huge, barking dog bounded to her, and 
rearing upon its hind legs placed its shaggy 
paws one upon each of her shoulders, and with 
horrid eyes looked into her face. 


CHAPTEE VII 


Stella’s heart gave a great bound of joy and 
thankfulness as Weston, almost as pale as her- 
self, sprang toward her, and with one well- 
directed kick sent the brute, yelping, ten paces 
away. 

“I beg a thousand pardons!” he cried. ‘‘I 
should not have let the dog appear before my- 
self ; but there is no harm in him. I hope you 
are not very much frightened. You were so 
hidden by the tree that I did not think you here. 
I am very sorry.” 

Still trembling, and with cheeks on which the 
pallor of terror was struggling with the crimson 
of joyful recognition, she answered pantingly, 

‘ ‘I ought not to have been so much frightened, 
but i did not suspect any one near. ’ ’ 

‘^What are you reading?” he inquired, taking 
up the volume. 

‘‘Scott’s Napoleon,” she answered hesitat- 
ingly. 

“Humph ! how much do you know of previous 
French history?” he asked, looking at her quiz- 
zically. 

“Nothing; absolutely nothing since the time 
of Caesar.” 

“A pretty considerable interval. What do 
you remember of ancient history?” 

She acknowledged she knew very little except 


STELLA HOPE 


61 


the modicum she had learned from the study of 
Latin. 

‘‘Then/’ said he kindly, “allow me to remark 
that you have made an injudicious selection in 
the present volume. One cannot, without some 
knowledge of antecedent events, take up to 
much advantage any isolated portion of history. 
It would he like the hypothesis of the ancients in 
regard to the support of the earth: first the 
shoulders of Atlas, then the tortoise, and then — 
what?” 

She had sunk into the rustic seat and he 
rested his gun and himself against the tree. 
Standing thus, he entered into a dissertation 
upon the best methods of studying history. She 
listened attentively and thanked him with such 
devoutness — showing how much in earnest she 
was — that he was touched. He reproached him- 
self for levity when he saw how undaunted she 
was by the long list of authorities he had half- 
teasingly named to her. 

“ And what else besides history?” she had 
asked. 

“Nothing else for a while till you go regularly 
to school, unless you would like to take up 
French. Do you know anything of the gram- 
mar?” 

“Not worth speaking of. I have been trying 
to study it without a teacher, hut I don’t know 
the pronunciation.” 

“If you will allow me, I will he your instruc- 
tor while I am here.” 

She thanked him effusively. 


62 


STELLA HOPE 


is a very useful study for young ladies 
contemplating going abroad. I suppose you will 
be wishing to go abroad after you finislj 
school r ’ 

^^Oh!” •'» 

This was all the answer she made, but she. 
clasped her hands in a sudden passionate ges- 
ture of intense desire, while her eyes spoke 
more eloquently than the gesture. 

^^Ah! you would like to go, then,’^ and again 
he looked at her with that same quizzical ex- 
pression. 

‘^Like it? I would almost give half my life; 
but,” sadly, might as well think of going to 
the moon. ’ ’ 

‘‘Does not your aunt intend sending you otf 
to boarding-school?” 

“No; oh, no, indeed! She is much embar- 
rassed in her atfairs, and could scarcely send 
Ethel.” 

“Have you no other relative who might?” 

“No, I believe not. I have a bachelor uncle, 
somewhere out in the West if he still lives, but 
I have not heard from him since my father’s 
death. Aunt Kate calls him a ne’er-do-weel, 
and I suppose he is, though I dislike to hear my 
mother’s brother thus spoken of.” 

“Where was he when last heard from?” 

“In Portland, Oregon; but that was nearly 
three years ago, and he was sick and needed 
money. He may be dead now as we never heard 
anything afterward. ’ ’ 

“Have you his letter?” 


STELLA HOPE 


63 


‘ ^ No ; I never saw it. ’ ’ 

‘‘What was his nameP’ 

“Richard Stockton.’^ 

Weston was silent a moment, musing. Then 
he sprang to his feet. 

“Whew! do you know what time it isV’ he 
asked. 

“No; but I hope it is not near dinner-time,” 
she answered with alarm in her voice. 

“It is only half an hour ! you had better come 
at once.” 

“No, you go ; I have to put up my things here. 
I will follow in a few seconds. ’ ^ 

He went at a rapid stride, and she, hastily 
putting up writing materials, gathered hat, book 
and banjo and started off at a run by a shorter 
route homeward, where she arrived ahead of 
him. 

“Where is Stella?” she heard her aunt ask 
sharply; and she answered just in the nick of 
time, 

“Here I am. Aunt,” and began to slice the 
tomatoes without a moment’s delay, devoutly 
thankful to have no questions asked. 

Weston found Will on the portico, he and 
Nellie engaged in a game of backgammon, the 
invalid apparently as much interested as she. 
Weston had marveled recently at the change in 
his friend for the better. There was a percepti- 
ble increase of flesh on his hitherto wasted 
frame, a corresponding gain in strength, while 
his eyes beamed brightly and there was always 
now a faint color on his thin cheek. 


64 


STELLA HOPE 


As Weston paused now to note the improve- 
ment, a silent thanksgiving filled his breast, and 
he stood looking on at the game in unfeigned 
pleasure. 

‘ ^ Sixes ! ’ ’ cried Nellie gleefully, and she threw 
ofiF, but leaving a blot in her table. ^Hf you do 
not strike me, I win, ’ ^ she laughed. 

‘^Ah! but d intend to strike you,’^ and he 
threw. ‘^Cinques!’’ and he promptly placed 
her ‘^man’^ upon the bridge. Then a few rapid 
throws and moves gave him the game. 

‘‘Hurrah!’’ exclaimed Weston, walking up 
and slapping him on the shoulder ; and the two 
friends exchanged glances in which each read 
the love of the other. 

The next day being Sunday, Marie, Nellie, 
and Stella went to church in the large old-fash- 
ioned carriage, while Weston rode on horse- 
back beside them. Willoughby had insisted that 
none of them remain at home on his account, 
declaring Nichols amply capable of looking 
after his comfort. So they had all gone off in 
high spirits, Marie handsome and dignified, 
Nellie pretty and smiling in her new dress, 
which Miss Lovell, grateful for many little acts 
of kindness and consideration, had surrepti- 
tiously made in her own time, chiefly at night 
when the family were assembled on the portico. 
And then came Stella, “rosy as the dawn,” in 
white frock and blue ribbons ; looking out ever 
and anon at the gallant horseman, in her eyes 
like some valiant knight of old. 

There was the usual flutter incident to conn- 


STELLA HOPE 


65 


try churches when the handsome quartette filed 
in; and many a country belle directed sly 
glances toward Weston and Nellie as he took a 
seat beside her. After the services there fol- 
lowed a few introductions, then the drive home- 
ward, during which a sudden electric storm 
overtook them. 

Nellie insisted on Weston ^s tying his bridle to 
the rear of the carriage and coming inside ; a re- 
quest which he, glad to escape a wetting, most 
readily complied with, taking a seat beside 
Stella on the front seat. Marie cowered and 
hid her face at every flash of the vivid light- 
ning, Nellie chatted between the reverberations 
of the thunder, while Stella, in silent awe, looked 
out at the swaying of the trees and listened to 
the roar of the winds, with a feeling divided 
between fear and delight. 

‘‘Any hats or frocks injured!’’ inquired Will, 
as, the rain over and the sun once more brightly 
shining, they came upon the portico where he 
was enjoying the freshened air, laden with the 
perfume of many wind-blown, rain-battered 
flowers. 

“None but Uncle Ben’s, I believe,” replied 
Nellie gaily. “He was our scape-goat on this 
occasion, and I shall make him reparation,” a 
promise in which both Will and Weston begged 
leave to unite, which sent away the dripping old 
servant grinning from ear to ear. 

It was another of Stella’s duties — and one 
more sBsthetic than slicing tomatoes and cucum- 


5 


66 


STELLA HOPE 


bers — to cull the flowers for the vases in the 
early morning and arrange them before break- 
fast. Weston discovered this one morning as 
he came upon her quite unexpectedly in the 
rose-garden. 

It had been an unusually warm night, and he 
had arisen early to enjoy the delicious coolness 
and fragrance of the dawn. 

He saw her before she became aware of his 
presence, and he paused a moment to contem- 
plate her fresh young beauty before speaking 
to her. Her brilliant coloring, her graceful 
movements among the dew-besprinkled roses 
seemed peculiarly to fit her for the occupation in 
which she was now engaged ; and her loving, al- 
most reverential attitude, as she reluctantly cut 
them from their stems, suggested Proserpine 
gathering flowers upon the plain of Enna. 

He involuntarily shuddered to think that 
some day perhaps a grim Pluto, in the shape of 
mortal lover, might bear away to an uncon- 
genial home this fair sun-loving maiden who 
now, smiling and blushing, looked up and 
greeted him. 

‘^Why, I had no idea that you were such an 
early bird. You might well pass for one of the 
‘Posy Hours,’ if you will pardon the mixed 
metaphor. ’ ’ 

“Yes, I gather them while the dew is on them, 
that they may keep fresh,” she answered sim- 

piy- 

“Let me assist you, as I see the fairest ones 


STELLA HOPE 


67 


are above your reach, and in drawing them over 
you bring such a shower of dew upon you. ’ ’ 

‘‘That does not matter, I am used to it; be- 
sides, I always change my dress before break- 
fast.’^ 

“What, two toilettes in one morning! That 
is quite a reproach to those who can scarcely 
make one,” he said, thinking of Ethel, and at- 
tentively regarding Stella’s dress, which he now 
recognized to be the quaint robe she wore the 
day he first saw her in the woodland meadow. 

“What is your favorite flower?” he asked, to 
make her talk. 

‘ ‘ I scarcely know, I love them all so well ; but 
I rather think the rose, the white carnation, the 
lily-of-the-valley, and — ” 

“All the others,” he added, laughing; then, 
“Don’t you love the heart ’s-ease?” 

“ Yes ; but I believe I love the wild violet bet- 
ter. ’ ’ 

‘‘Why so?” 

“Because I feel so sorry for all wild flowers. 
They have to grow up all by themselves, with no 
one to look after or care for them. They must 
— if flowers can feel — lead very lonely lives.” 

Poor little girl ! did she think there was any 
analogy between her own neglected life and that 
of the wild flowers? he inwardly asked him- 
self. Aloud he said, 

“But some do care for them — ^you and I for 
instance. Besides, no doubt the wild birds love 
them and sing to them; the bees and other wing- 
ed creatures hover around them and fold them- 


68 


STELLA HOPE 


selves to sleep amid tlieir petals; the sweet 
breezes whisper wonderful things to them, the 
sunshine peeps lovingly down upon them ; while, 
on moonlight nights, the little people in green 
hold their revels among them. ’ ’ 

She had listened in beaming delight, and in- 
terrupted him to say, 

‘ ‘ Oh ! I had never thought of all that. ’ ’ 

‘‘And don’t you think,” he continued, “it is 
far nicer to be wild and sweet in Nature’s own 
way, than to be cultivated into greater beauty, 
only to be plucked by some careless hand, and 
then thrown out to be trampled upon, per- 
haps!” 

“Oh! yes, yes; surely,” she answered earn- 
estly. 

“Are you fond of poetry!” he asked. 

“I believe I am; but I have read so little. ’^’ 

‘ ‘ If you will allow me, I will select a few short 
poems for you to commit to memory. I think 
Burns’s ‘A Mountain Daisy’ very sweet, and if 
you like I will to-day teach you the meaning and 
pronunciation of the Scotch words, after I have 
heard your French; shall I!” 

She gave a grateful assent. 

“Ah now, how awkward I am 1 1 have stuck a 
thorn in my finger, just where I can’t get at it. 
Would you mind pulling it out for me!” 

“It is broken off short. I am so sorry,” pre- 
paring to draw it out. 

‘‘And then, too, I have no instrument more 
delicate than a pen-knife. You can pick it out 
with a pin, or even a hairpin,” and he thought 


STELLA HOPE 


69 


of how Robbie Burns fell in love with bis first 
sweetheart as she picked the brier from his 
band in the harvest-field. 

She laughed gaily at the suggestion of the 
hair-pin. 

^‘You needn’t laugh. I read a few days ago 
of the thousand uses to which a woman can put 
a hair-pin,” and he enumerated a few of the 
most unlikely. 

She drew an immense shell pin from her hair, 
which now fell in a shower of bright tresses 
around her shoulders. 

have but this one,” holding it up. ^‘Now, 
shall I proceed?” The smile which accom- 
panied the words was just sufficient to display 
the white and beautifully shaped teeth ; and as 
she raised innocently her dark gray eyes Wes- 
ton thought he never had seen a more enchant- 
ing picture. 

can do better for you than that,” she said; 
‘ ^ I have a needle here in my flower-basket. ’ ’ 

<< Provident little maiden!” he ejaculated, 
still regarding her as, in the most matter-of-fact 
manner, she took hold of his extended hand with 
her slender dew-moistened fingers and attempt- 
ed to draw out the thorn. 

But Weston proved to be an unruly subject, 
and by several well-feigned twitches of pain re- 
tarded the operation. It was so pleasurable to 
feel the clinging fingers and to note the expres- 
sion of concern as she strove to spare him. But 
when he saw how unsuspicious she was he suf- 
fered her to draw the thorn out. 


70 


STELLA HOPE 


she exclaimed, in great relief, ‘‘it was 
the hardest to get out!’^ and taking up her 
basket she turned to go. 

“Will you not give me one rose to keepT’ he 
asked. 

“Certainly; help yourself,” she replied, of- 
fering him the basket to choose from. 

“But I will prize it more if you will give it to 
me yourself. ’ ’ 

Searching among the roses, she took up the 
most perfect white bud and handed it to him. 

‘ ‘ Thank you ; I shall treasure it as typical of 
the giver,” and when she was gone, he added, 
‘ ‘ Sweet human bud ! too young to love, but not 
too young to he loved,” and taking out his 
pocket-book he laid the half-blown rose in it and 
placed the purse in his breast-pocket. 


CHAPTER VIII 


That forenoon, when he had heard her French 
lesson Weston taught Stella how to read ‘‘The 
Mountain Daisy,’’ and also “Lines to a Field 
Mouse. ’ ’ To his surprise, on the following day 
she had learned them both perfectly, and re- 
cited them with such a simple, pathetic tender- 
ness, devoid of all elocutionary effort, as to 
make the havoc of the plough-share seem almost 
a personal calamity. 

Her auditor felt a sudden chill, as if it were a 
premonition of future evil to her, as she recited, 

“ ‘But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane 

In proving foresight may be vain; 

The best-laid plans o’ mice and men 
Gang aft a-gley. 

And leave us naught but grief and pain 
For promised joy.’ ” 

The next day, as Weston went through the 
peach orchard, on his return from the woods, he 
glanced toward a tree where there were very 
fine peaches, and saw her perched on a lower 
limb, while a half-grown colored girl held up a 
basket that the ripe fruit might be gathered 
without bruising. 

Stella espied Weston at the same moment 
that he saw her, and in much confusion made a 
movement to leap down. He hastened to her as- 
sistance, but before he could reach her she 


72 


STELLA HOPE 


leaped forward, seized a strong bough and light- 
ly swung herself to the ground. 

Bravo!’’ he cried, never saw I feat more 
graceful. ’ ’ 

‘‘Oh! Mr. Weston, you ought to be ashamed 
to make fun of my shoes. I put them on only to 
climb better, ’ ’ and she bent over to hide them. 

Weston laughed heartily as he explained, and 
she joined him merrily. 

“Guess what I have in my pocket for you,” 
he said. 

“A young squirrel!” she exclaimed delight- 
edly. 

“No; try again.” 

She made several ineffectual guesses. 

“Give me a peach or two and I will show 
you,” and he drew out two young but full- 
fledged doves. 

“Oh, the darlings she exclaimed raptur- 
ously, reaching out her hands; and as she re- 
ceived them, warm and confiding, she pressed 
them lovingly to her cheek. 

“I believe you love all dumb things,” he re- 
marked, pleased at her pleasure. 

“Yes, most of them,” she replied simply, 
still caressing the cuddling birds. 

“What will you name them?” 

“Don’t you think Daisy and — and Mousie 
would do ? ” 

“Do you remember the mythological story of 
Ceyx and Alcyone?” he asked. 

“Not very well. Didn’t one of them get torn 


STELLA HOPE 


73 


in pieces by a lion or fall in the Hellespont and 
get drowned?^’ 

^‘No; you are thinking of Pyramus and 
Thishe; or of Hero and Leander. Ceyx and 
Alcyone were two lovers, and when one got 
drowned the other leaped into the sea to end a 
miserable existence, but the deities had compas- 
sion on their faithfulness and changed them 
both into sea birds. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh ! yes ; I remember now ; and because the 
sea was always calm while they were building 
their nests on the waves, those were called Hal- 
cyon days/^ 

^‘Precisely; so let’s name the birds for those 
lovers. ’ ’ 

‘^But one of them came to an untimely end,” 
she objected. 

‘‘No matter; it was restored to life, and they 
were reunited. It is only a type of the love that 
shall survive even death,” he answered mus- 
ingly. 

She shivered with youth’s instinctive dread of 
such thoughts, and softly stroking the backs of 
the doves she said, “Very well, then,” and 
again placed them against her soft, white 
throat, beneath whose satiny surface the warm 
blood of buoyant young life was beating in the 
full tide of perfect health. 

To Willoughby, if not to the family at Oak- 
lands, the summer was gliding away delightful- 
ly, and almost before they were aware the au- 
tumn was drawing rapidly near. As yet, how- 


74 STELLA HOPE 

ever, there had been no allusion to their de- 
parture. 

There was a very perceptible change for the 
better in Will’s condition; and Weston was 
greatly encouraged as to his ultimate resto- 
ration to health, if not to erectness of stature. 
Supported on his friend’s arm, he could, with 
the aid of a crutch on the other side, walk, stoop- 
ingly it is true, several times across the long 
front porch, while to his erstwhile extreme pal- 
lor and emaciation had succeeded both fulness 
and color, and to the former hollow brightness 
of his eyes a softer, steadier glow of returning 
health. Each day revealed more and more what 
a handsome man he had been before his injuries, 
and might become again. 

He was most warmly grateful for all the kind, 
cousinly attentions he had received, but it was 
chiefly to Nellie that he turned for mental re- 
freshment, though now, since his improvement 
had become so marked, Marie was willing to 
share with her the entertainment of the invalid. 

But it was Nellie who had always been most 
ready to read, to talk, to play backgammon, and 
to sing to him — in a voice far inferior to 
Ethel’s, but to the music-loving invalid, very 
pleasing. 

Weston was still the stoical recipient of much 
badinage upon the small success of his daily 
hunting expeditions; but he showed no abate- 
ment of zeal. Each day, after a few shots at 
squirrels, sometimes bringing one home for a 
stew for Will, he would turn his steps in the 


STELLA HOPE 


75 


direction of Stella’s haunt, and there aid her in 
her studies. 

He was much pleased at the almost phenome- 
nal progress she made, and astonished at her 
ready intelligence. 

He had sometimes observed in her a certain 
awkwardness of speech or manner when she was 
in the presence of Mrs. Haughton or Marie ; but 
here, with book in hand, and its contents the 
subject of discussion, she was a totally different 
person; and, losing all self-consciousness, she 
could express herself with a becomingness, and 
even elegance, which was scarcely credible. 

She was now repeating the rules in^ the 
French grammar for the direct and indirect 
regimens of the reflective verb. She began, 

Je m’aime, I love myself, 

Je t’aime, I love thee” — 

At this point a spirit of mischief seized her 
instructor. She was so unconscious of her in- 
advertence, so modest, that he could not resist 
the temptation to tease her a little. When she 
reached the second person of the verb a twinkle 
came in his eye, and he said, 

‘‘Eh? how is that? Eepeat, if you please.” 
She recommenced, 

“ Je m’aime, I love myself, 

Je t’aime, I love thee” — 

When, catching herself, she stopped short in 
sudden embarrassment. Then observing the 
amused twinkle of his eye, and comprehending 
the snare into which she had fallen, her face, 
neck and hands became a vivid crimson, and to 


76 


STELLA HOPE 


hide her confusion she covered her face with 
her hands, unable to utter a word. 

When he saw to what extent she was embar- 
rassed he was thoroughly ashamed of himself 
and hastened to apologize. 

‘^Please do forgive my foolishness; I only 
meant to tease you a little ; I thought you would 
only laugh. ’ ’ 

She made no reply except to place the open 
book before her face. 

‘‘Are you offended with meP^ he asked in 
real concern. 

No answer. 

“Are you? Please tell me,’^ he urged. 

“No-o,’’ in a half-stifled voice. 

He was about to draw away the book from 
her face to see if she were laughing, when a 
great tear splashed down suddenly upon a sheet 
of exercises in her lap. He was greatly shocked, 
and very angry with himself ; but pretending to 
think that she was laughing, he went on, in 
soberest fashion, with a dissertation on the na- 
ture of reflective verbs, in order to give her time 
to recover her composure. Then he jumped to 
his feet, saying, 

“ Oh ! I had forgotten. I promised Will to re- 
turn early, to write some letters for him. Just 
take the next lesson. And — wouldn’t stay too 
long here. Good-by,” and he was gone. 

For some minutes after his departure Stella 
remained motionless; but within that short 
space she had formed the resolution to come 
here no more. She was vexed with Weston, but 


STELLA HOPE 


77 


far more with herself, for being so foolishly 
embarrassed. In the endeavor to compose her- 
self she lingered too long, and the dinner-bell 
rang before she had returned. She dreaded the 
ordeal of dinner, and plead a headache as an 
excuse for absenting herself. 

That afternoon Mrs. Haughton summoned 
Stella and proceeded to administer a severe re- 
buke upon her neglect of duty and her unfemi- 
nine strolling habits, ’ ^ forbidding her from that 
time forth, under penalty of her severe displeas- 
ure, to go outside the limits of the lawn without 
her express permission. Already wrought up 
by the incident of the forenoon, this put the fin- 
ishing touch to the girPs discomfort; and she 
was seen no more that day by Weston. 

That night, feeling very miserable, she lay 
down upon her bed, intending to rise after a 
while and undress for the night ; but sleep sur- 
prised her, and she slept hours, dreaming that 
in a haze of mellow splendor she and Weston 
were wandering over fields of flowers fairer 
than any known to earth. Hand clasped in 
hand, she was listening to words musical with 
immortal love, and his face, as he looked into 
hers, was radiant with happiness; and though 
they wandered far, yet was there no sense of 
fatigue ; for her feet seemed treading on buoy- 
ant air, and her face was ever turned toward 
his. 

Awakening in the wee, small hours, she caine 
back to earth with a sigh. During her sleep the 
moon had traversed half the heavens and was 


78 


STELLA HOPE 


sinking toward the western horizon in a pale 
haze, casting a melancholy light into her win- 
dow, which she had left open. 

The night had become more chill ; and all na- 
ture without had such a weird look that, as she 
reached out to close the blinds, she drew back 
shudderingly. 

At that instant she thought she heard a scrap- 
ing noise down beside the back porch over which 
her window looked. She paused, and listened 
intently. Surely somebody or something was 
stealthily moving below, hidden from her view 
by the projecting porch. 

Soon, to her astonishment, she saw rise 
above the shingling what appeared to be the 
ends of two poles a foot apart. A little higher 
it rose — a transverse piece connecting the two 
poles — until the letter H was formed. Then 
Stella’s dazed intelligence awoke, and in an in- 
stant she comprehended. A burglar was climb- 
ing up to her window, of which the blinds were 
open. Without awakening her aunt, who occu- 
pied the adjoining room, she went rapidly but 
softly in and seized the loaded pistol which al- 
ways lay on Mrs. Haughton’s mantel. 

When she regained the window of her room a 
man was in the act of stepping from the ladder 
to the roof of the porch. Without a n^oment’s 
hesitation she raised the pistol and fired. 


CHAPTEE IX 


As Stella fired, the man swayed a moment, ut- 
tered an oath, and disregarding the ladder, 
sprang to the ground. At the same instant the 
awakened dogs bounded out from their kennels, 
and the furious barking, added to the report of 
the pistol, had the effect of bringing the female 
portion of the household running in great alarm 
to their mother’s room. 

Stella, still grasping the pistol, and tremb- 
ling with excitement, had just succeeded in 
lighting the lamp. As Marie iDeheld the weapon 
in the girl’s hand she cried out, 

‘‘Good heavens ! Nellie, I believe she has shot 
mother. ’ ’ 

The effect of this unlikely utterance appeared 
so ludicrous to Stella that in her agitated state 
she broke into uncontrollable laughter, almost 
falling into a chair. Poor Mrs. Haughton, be- 
wildered, sat up in bed, half believing that the 
girl, in consequence of the berating she had re- 
ceived, had attempted her own life. 

It was some moments before Nellie, the cool- 
est of them all, and the most sensible, could ex- 
tract the facts of the case. When this had been 
explained, some one was heard knocking at the 
back door, below stairs. It was Weston, inquir- 
ing the cause of the tumult and asking if he 
could be of assistance. 

On obtaining the enlightenment he sought, he 


80 


STELLA HOPE 


called Nichols and they went out to investigate. 
The ladder was still against the back piazza, 
and the dogs were in hot pursuit, hut now some 
distance away near the woods. The moon being 
just ready to sink behind the horizon, he con- 
cluded to defer pursuit till the morrow; but at 
dawn searching parties set out, and found 
traces of the marauder by a few drops of blood 
where he had evidently stopped to rest ; but be- 
yond that point could discover nothing. 

The drops of blood attested the accuracy of 
Stella’s aim, and she was much lauded by Wes- 
ton and Will for her courage. She declared 
that she had no intention of trying to kill, but 
aimed at his arm with the view of frightening 
him away. 

The general impression was that as Mrs. 
Haughton had the previous afternoon been pay- 
ing off some extra workmen and had let be seen 
a considerable roll of bank bills in her hand, the 
attempted burglary had been perpetrated by 
one of these men. No other clue having been 
obtained, the affair was dropped, and every- 
thing settled into the usual quietude. 

When for several successive days Stella was 
not to be seen by Weston at her accustomed 
haunt, he grew disconcerted, and vehemently 
blamed himself for his momentary spirit of mis- 
chief, resolving to be more circumspect in the 
future. 

Eeturning home on the third day, harassed at 
the turn afeirs had taken, he came upon Will 
and Nellie in the umbrageous seclusion of a 


STELLA HOPE 


81 


side veranda ; but they were to all appearances 
so content with the society of each other, as she 
read to him, that he did not intrude. 

He repaired to his own room and took up a 
book, but he could not fix his attention upon it. 
After reading a few pages he threw it down in 
disgust, and sauntered out aimlessly on the 
front portico. 

With a dim sense that something was lacking 
he glanced around in every direction, and a new 
light came into his eye as he caught sight of a 
female figure reclining out in the hammock un- 
der some shade trees on the lawn. 

Thinking it Stella, he was about to hasten to 
her, when the individual letting a book fall, and 
rising to recover it, he perceived that it was 
Marie. 

Mentally congratulating himself that he had 
not intruded upon her meditations, he remained 
upon the portico, walking back and forth. How 
stale, flat, and unprofitable everything appeared 
this day ! 

He now went into the back piazza, and as he 
approached the end next the dining-room he 
heard a clatter of dishes, and scarcely conscious 
of the impulse that prompted the action, he 
leaned over the railing and looked in. 

There, at a side-table, stood Stella. Instantly 
he felt a new interest in life and his countenance 
lost its bored look. 

With sleeves rolled up above her dimpled 
elbows she was engaged in her customary oc- 


82 


STELLA HOPE 


cupation at this hour, slicing tomatoes and cu- 
cumbers. Her whole appearance was as cool 
and fresh as the appetizing esculent in her 
hand; and as she stood, unconscious of his 
presence, he regarded her a few moments with- 
out speaking. 

An odd comparison came into his mind as 
he noted the green ribbon confining her loosely 
tied hair, saw the bright coloring of her cheek, 
and the pure white of brow, chin and neck. 

He did not admire, with the exception of Nel- 
lie, this Haughton family. For her he enter- 
tained the highest regard. This home atmos- 
phere he considered dwarfing to the growth of 
all those finer sensibilities which make up the 
ensemble of a noble soul; and he wondered how 
Nellie’s superior nature could flourish and 
bloom into womanly healthfulness under such 
asphyxiating influences. 

Perhaps he judged them too severely ; but as 
they had never taken the pains to show him a 
nobler side of their characters, he was not to 
be blamed in taking them at their face value. 

He was troubled when he considered the in- 
fluence which such natures might exert on this 
simple, unaffected child of nature, but he was 
instantly comforted by the reflection that 
stronger, nobler souls always assert themselves, 
no matter what the environment. 

At any rate, as he stood there observing her, 
he^ was reminded of that luscious melon which 
thirsty travelers sometimes find amid the arid 
sands of the parching Sahara; how a seed, in- 


STELLA HOPE 


83 


serted by some former provident voyager of 
this sandy sea into the deep-searching root of 
the harsh camePs-thorn, soon spronts into a 
flourishing vine, producing melons of most de- 
licious quality, gladdening the palate, and 
bringing renewed life and hope to the weary 
traveler perishing of thirst. 

Thus, in this sterile soil of egotism and mer- 
cenary calculation, grew this young maiden, in 
her fresh bloom and naturalness as soul-re- 
freshing to his vision as the juicy, red melon to 
the fainting wayfarer of the Great Desert. 

‘^Good morning; how is the headache P’ he 
asked. 

She looked up, startled; then smiled bright- 
ly, declaring she had never felt better. 

‘‘Are you getting hungry P’ she asked half- 
saucily. 

“Yes,’’ he answered, regarding the fine, ripe 
tomato she had taken up. 

“ Won ’t you have this tomato 1 ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ With thanks. What beauties they are ! ’ ’ 

“Stella, what are you idling about? Don’t 
you see dinner will be ready before you have 
the tomatoes fixed?” asked Mrs. Haughton as 
she came into the dining-room at this moment. 
Then seeing Weston, with the tomato in his 
hand, 

“Oh! I perceive. Dinner ivill soon he ready y 
Mr. Weston.” 

Weston turned away curtly, and Stella, un- 
trained in manners, — as her aunt declared, — 
blushed crimson at the rudeness of her father’s 


84 


STELLA HOPE 


sister. But the young man was smiling 
amusedly before he reached the farther end of 
the piazza; and when he went in to dinner, in- 
stead of appearing abashed, as Mrs. Haughton 
expected, he was smilingly nonchalant as usual. 

^^This very imperviousness, as Marie styled 
his imperturbability, was exceedingly exasper- 
ating to both mother and daughter; but that 
two worldly minded women should hold him in 
less esteem because he gave his services and de- 
votion to a friend in distress, even though it 
might be partly in consideration of a pecuniary 
return, weighed not an iota with him ; for with- 
in a week after his arrival he had fully gauged 
their characters, and it had been with relief 
that he saw them bestow all their attentions 
upon the man of wealth. 

The afternoon post brought a letter from 
Ethel, the contents of which Mrs. Haughton 
made known that evening after tea. 

^ ^ My dear Will, ’ ’ she began. ^ ‘ I have a letter 
from Ethel, saying she has formed a great 
friendship with a very elegant and wealthy 
young lady from New Orleans. Her father 
does not wish to take his family back there till 
October ; and such being the case, Ethel wishes 
to invite Miss Poulard to spend the month of 
September here at Oaklands as some slight 
acknowledgment of a very pressing invitation 
to herself to pass the whole of next winter with 
her friend in New Orleans. But my dear girl 
hesitates to invite any one here on your ac- 
count. She fears lest the introduction of a 


STELLA HOPE 


85 


strange young lady in the honse may, in a man- 
ner, interfere with yonr comfort or freedom. ’ ’ 
She paused, and as she hoped, he assured her 
that he would be charmed to make the acquaint- 
ance of the young Southerner. 

see no cause, he added, smiling and gal- 
lantly bowing toward his cousins, ‘‘why a fifth 
lovely and charming young lady should in any 
wise curtail my liberties, comforts, or pleas- 
ures.’’ 

Mrs. Haughton expressed herself as much 
gratified. She had already made up her own 
mind that Miss Poulard should come for she 
intended to have Ethel accept the invitation to 
New Orleans. And since her third daughter 
was to be the retriever of the family fortunes, 
no stone was to be left unturned to accomplish 
that high destiny. She continued affably, 
“Ethel writes that Miss Poulard is the ac- 
knowledged belle of The White. I am sure you 
will lose your heart. Will, unless you are proof 
against the charms of beauty and wit.” 

It was an unfortunate remark. The recollec- 
tion of Ethel’s rudeness flashed quickly up in 
his memory, and his cheek colored painfully. 
Within a few weeks he had become acutely sen- 
sitive as to his maimed condition, though he had 
assiduously endeavored to conceal this under 
an air of cheerfulness and serenity. 

The coupling thus unexpectedly of his 
crippled disabilities with the gay and sparkling 
charms of this bright Southern butterfly 


86 


STELLA HOPE 


brought home to him, in all its bitterness, his 
crushing misfortune. 

Nellie was intensely thankful that she was in 
shadow, and that the filling of her eyes could 
not be seen, as he answered, slowly and sadly, 
‘Ht is not for such a battered wreck as my- 
self, Cousin, to aspire to woman’s favor.” 

Mrs. Haughton, recognizing too late her 
blunder, continued volubly, 

‘‘Ethel will be so grateful to you, and I am 
delighted to afford my children every opportu- 
nity to be happy. We can be young but once. ’ ’ 
Marie, however, did not appear at that mo- 
ment to be especially happy. Her mother’s un- 
premeditated truism struck a most inharmoni- 
ous chord upon that instrument of “ a thousand 
strings” which is supposed to be incased in 
every human bosom. Her youth, she recognized 
with sharp pain, was passing all too rapidly, 
with nothing as yet accomplished. 

The keynote of her thought was heard in her 
discontented voice as she said, 

“I wish, mama, that you would move to 
town. ’ ’ 

Mrs. Haughton made no reply, and the con- 
versation turned upon the question of how a 
society-loving young favorite of fortune, such 
as Miss Roulard, could endure for a month the 
limited resources of entertainment in the coun- 
try. 

The catalogue of rural pleasures, such as ten- 
nis and golf, riding, driving, picknicking, and 


STELLA HOPE 


87 


the like having been exhausted, Stella added yet 
one more to the list. 

‘ ^ Chinquapins will be about ripe ; we can play 
‘Even and Odd.’ ” 

“I don’t know the game,” said Weston; “but 
the name is a suggestive one. Surely, it must 
be a pleasant thing to get even when the odds 
are against one.” 

The next morning Weston intercepted Stella 
in the hall. 

“When shall I have the pleasure of hearing 
your lessons again!” he asked. 

She blushed, and hesitated painfully as she 
replied, 

“I don’t know. I thought I would drop them 
awhile. ’ ’ 

“Drop them when you are getting along so 
famously ! ’ ’ looking at her searchingly, at which 
she grew more confused, but did not answer, 
“Ah! I see I otf ended you the other day, and 
you have not forgiven me,” with a look of sin- 
cere self-reproach. 

She raised her eyes timidly to make a faint 
denial and he could not help noticing how pretty 
they were. 

“If you give up your lessons you will be de- 
priving me of one of my chief pleasures,” he 
said regretfully. 

“Then I will continue them,” she answered 
simply. 

For the next week the mansion at Oaklands 
was the theatre of continuous action ; an inces- 
sant process of furbishing, renovating, and 


88 


STELLA HOPE 


turning the best side out, from parlor to attic; 
while every available piece of silver, cut-glass, 
china, and bric-a-brac was brought into requisi- 
tion to produce an effect of opulence and to do 
honor to the expected guest. 

Eesourceful as Nellie was, she now found her- 
self eclipsed by Marie, who showed that when 
she was sufficiently interested she could be fer- 
tile in resource also ; for besides the love of os- 
tentation inherent in her nature, she in this pro- 
jected visit of the fair Southerner saw as 
^ through a glass darkly’^ some future advant- 
age to herself. 

Stella was available only under the immedi- 
ate supervision of a superior; and when not 
under orders was able to snatch time for the 
preparation and recital of her lessons. 

It was impossible for these lessons, these 
daily meetings of two interesting personalities 
— ^both in a measure isolated — to continue with- 
out bringing about a condition of sentiment 
warmer than a casual friendship. Weston, un- 
willing to acknowledge to himself that he was 
more than interested in her intellectual develop- 
ment, was yet dimly conscious of a feeling of 
protecting tenderness which might ripen into 
love, and if reciprocated might prove dangerous 
to the equilibrium of her heart as well as his 
own. 

She, on the other hand, was too young, too in- 
experienced in affairs of the heart to have a 
true sense of the nature of her regard for him. 
The sympathy he had shown over the killing of 


STELLA HOPE 


89 


her pet, the gift of the much-prized banjo, his 
interest in her education had so loosed the shell 
of her reserve, had caused such a diminution of 
awe accompanied by an increment of warm hu- 
man friendship, that there was needed hut a 
spark to kindle love in her innocent bosom. 

Already his smile of approval was of more 
value to her than anything else in the world. 

She could not have rendered a name for this 
feeling, yet it was devotion under disguise. It 
was as the perfume of the half-blown rose wait- 
ing to bestow its incense on the wooing breeze, 
all unconscious of its own fragrance. Happy 
the man who may win for himself and gather 
into his own bosom all the beauty and richness 
of such a soul. 

Several times Weston had caught himself 
upon the point of addressing her by some such 
pet epithet as Liebchen/^ or 

^^Mavourneen/^ checking himself in time, 
though once he did use Mavourneen^^ before 
he was aware. 

^^What does Mavourneen mean?’’ she had 
asked, and he told her it was a term that the 
poet Campbell had used in connection with Ire- 
land, and which she would find out when she 
should read that poet. 

^^You have a sweet name,” he added. am 
so glad it is one that cannot he mutilated like 
so many of the present day, such as ^Mai/ or 
^Mayme* for Mary; or your ^Fannyes/ 
^Ruhyes/ and ^Grayces/ I like a name that 
signifies something. Stella, especially when 


90 


STELLA HOPE 


combined with Hope, has an inspiring sound; 
and if I were a knight of old and you a ladye 
fair of the days of chivalry I think I might have 
gone in quest of noble deeds with a sturdy cour- 
age, having ^a star of hope’ emblazoned on mj 
shield. Would you have granted me the privi- 
lege?” 

This was dangerous ground if he did not wish 
to make love to a girl so young. He recognized 
it as such and abruptly changed the subject. 

^‘How old are you, Stella?” 

‘ ‘ I was fifteen a few weeks ago. ’ ’ 

‘ ^ And did not tell me it was your birthday, ’ ’ 
reproachfully. 

was ashamed to tell you,” she answered 
with touching humility. 

‘‘Why so?” 

“Because I am so ignorant to be so old.” 

“So old!” and he laughed at the absurdity. 
“But you are more advanced in some of your 
studies than the majority of girls of your age, 
and besides, you have the capacity to make up 
for lost time, ’ ’ he added encouragingly. 

She looked incredulous, making no answer ex- 
cept to ask, 

‘ ‘ Shall you continue to hear my lessons after 
Cousin Ethel and Miss Eoulard come?” 

‘ ‘ Why not ? I shall certainly continue to hear 
them as long as you will let me. The arrival of 
those two young ladies will not affect me.” 
Then he added, looking at her searchingly, but 
smiling, “They will regard me only as the poor 
paid companion, unworthy of their notice.” 


STELLA HOPE 


91 


She felt to her true heart’s core all that was 
implied, and indignant tears sprang to her eyes 
as she cried impulsively, 

‘‘Were you a thousand times a paid compan- 
ion, you are in every respect their equal, unless 
it be Miss Poulard’s wealth.” 

“Hurrah! here’s a friend worth having,” 
exclaimed Weston. Then he asked, 

“Why did you imagine I might wish to leave 
otf the lessons I ’ ’ 

“I don’t know. It just came into my head 
that you might have other things more conveni- 
ent or agreeable.” 

She seemed pleased at the prospect of con- 
tinuing the recitations. For herself, diffident 
and reserved in the presence of strangers, she 
dreaded the arrival of the beautiful visitor as 
though it portended misfortune to herself. Per- 
haps, too, there did loom before her a premoni- 
tion which was to cast a shadow on her young 
life. 


CHAPTEE X 


^‘Come/’ said Nellie, that afternoon, to 
Marie, Weston and Stella, ‘4et’s go down to 
‘Chinquapin Bottom’ and gather some of 
Stella ’s treasures. ’ ’ 

“Please excuse me, ma chere; I have no 
fancy for pricking my fingers and spoiling my 
boots, stumbling through bushes and briers. I 
will stay here and entertain Will while you are 
gone, ’ ’ answered Marie promptly. 

“Very well, ma soeur; but see to it that you 
make a successful job of it,” laughed Nellie. 
But Will appeared not to appreciate Marie’s 
offer of self-sacrifice. His eyes, as they rested 
on the younger sister, said as plainly as words, 
‘ ‘ How I wish I could go, too. ’ ’ 

“Do you really care to go?” Nellie asked 
Weston as he took up his hat. 

“Assuredly I do. There is nothing I enjoy 
more than a ramble in the woods at this season 
of the year — except the conversation of an 
agreeable young lady,” he replied, bowing low 
to her. 

Stella ran away for a few minutes and re- 
turned with a collection of baskets. 

“You must be expecting a rich harvest, 
Stella,” said Nellie as the three started off in 
high spirits. 

The walk through the woods was pleasant in 
the afternoon sunshine. The early autumnal 


STELLA HOPE 


93 


flowers were in bloom along the wayside, and 
the breezes were blowing with a gentle sough 
among the tree-tops, showering down prema- 
turely yellowed leaves and imperfect nuts, 
while the dry twigs and dead leaves of preced- 
ing autumns crackled with a crisp sound be- 
neath their feet. 

Weston and Nellie walked leisurely along, 
conversing gaily or gravely as their thoughts 
prompted; but Stella zig-zagged in front, or in 
the rear, as objects of curiosity — ^bird, flower, or 
insect — presented themselves to view. She was 
as sportive as the squirrels that ever and anon 
peeped down from some embowered screen 
upon the trio, or ran behind the boles of the 
trees and peeped again. 

When they had reached ‘Hhe bottom,” Wes- 
ton was secretly amused as he recognized that 
just across the little stream was the meadow 
where he had first seen Stella. 

The latter was gaily running now from bush 
to bush, shaking down showers of the bright 
nuts, — as bright as her own hair, — rattling 
them merrily upon the dead leaves; then, 
flushed and happy with artless pleasure, she 
gathered the woodland treasures into an unnec- 
essarily large basket. Returning presently, she 
exclaimed delightedly, 

‘^Oh! see; I have gathered more than you 
both together ! ” 

^Ht is only because you picked out the fullest 
bushes,” answered Weston, teasingly. 

^‘Hark! I hear the sound of wheels,” said 


94 


eTELLA HOPE 


Nellie; and she went a few paces nearer the 
road. 

Halloa!’’ she shouted in pleased surprise, 
and signaling a passing carriage she started to 
run toward it. 

Weston and Stella were left together. 

Heigh ho ! I’m tired,” said he, sitting down 
and pretending fatigue. ‘^Come here. Miss 
Stella, and teach me to play that game of ^ Even 
and Odd’ you spoke of.” 

‘‘All right. It is very simple,” and she pro- 
ceeded to instruct him. “I am going to win 
every one you have; for you must not borrow 
from the ‘bank’ after your first supply.” And, 
true to her threat, his hat was soon empty, at 
which she laughed gleefully, unconscious of how 
very pretty she looked. 

“Will you try it over?” she asked. 

“No; you are too cruel. You not only break 
me, but you laugh at my misfortune. That is 
the way you will treat your lovers, I suppose, 
when you shall be a grown-up lady, eh? Break 
their hearts and then laugh at their sufferings.” 

“I never expect to have a lover,” she ans- 
wered, blushing and looking down. 

“Why not?” he inquired, smiling. 

“Because Aunt Catherine is always telling 
me I wiir never have the manners of a young 
lady.” 

“Aunt Catherine be hanged!” was on the tip 
of his tongue, but he restrained himself in time, 
and asked. 


STELLA HOPE 


95 


you wish to be fashioned exactly after 
the model of all other young ladies 

‘‘Yes, of course. One does not like to be odd, 
you know. ’ ’ 

“That depends wherein the oddity consists. 
Whom would you rather imitate T’ 

“DonT you think Cousin Marie has fine man- 
ners? Cousin Kate tells me to watch her, in 
company, and imitate her. ’ ^ 

“Heaven forbid!^’ was his involuntary ex- 
clamation. 

She was greatly shocked, and asked deject- 
edly, 

“Are there, then, finer manners than Cousin 
Marie’s? If so, how can I ever hope to possess 
them?” 

“Yours are a thousand times more pleasing 
to me than hers, even now.” 

A vivid and delighted blush leaped to her 
cheeks at this declaration ; but it was impossible 
he could be speaking the truth. She hung her 
head sadly. 

‘ ‘ Ah ! I know you are only making fun of me. 
But I will forgive you if you will tell me, as a 
portion of your instruction, what a grown-up 
lady should be. ’ ’ 

“I will, according to the generally accepted 
standard of excellence. First, she should be the 
embodiment of truth, kindness, and refinement ; 
cultivating to the best of her opportunities, 
heart, mind, and manners. Her constant en- 
deavor should be to crush out selfishness, and 


96 


STELLA HOPE 


be ready, as occasion many demand, to sacrifice 
her own pleasures to the general good. ’ ’ 

Silence and profound depression followed. 

‘^No one could ever hope to be all that,’’ she 
sighed. 

think I know one who might,” he said sig- 
nificantly; and grateful smiles sprang to her 
lips, while with faltering voice she thanked him 
for his good opinion of her, declaring that her 
ambition should be to deserve it. 

‘^Now, since I have given you my ideal of a 
lady, tell me what should be the attributes of a 
gentleman, especially if he were your lover. ’ ’ 

With all the frankness of an innocent child 
she opened her lips to speak; paused a mo- 
ment; bethought herself, and then — as on that 
other day — face, neck, and hands became crim- 
son. 

She was silent ; but in the pellucid depths of 
her clear eyes, as she raised them, he read 
something of the truth. 

The witching spell of the hour was upon him, 
and before he had considered what he was doing 
he had taken her trembling little hand in his, 
and was saying, 

^^Will you let me, some day, be your lover?” 

She made no attempt at an answer; for the 
suddenness of it all quite took away her breath. 
Reared as she had been, in the utmost seclusion, 
she had been thrown so little in the society of 
men as to be almost ignorant of the idea of love. 
To worship unconsciously and have it suddenly 


STELLA HOPE 


97 


revealed to her that she was loved, was like a 
glimpse into Paradise. 

So she sat silent, bewildered; almost believ- 
ing that she was under some strange hallucina- 
tion; or again in a dream, wandering in those 
Elysian fields of which she had had a vision. 

Weston leaned over and kissed her softly on 
the forehead, and the action was to her a seal 
of betrothal as sacred as if it had been wit- 
nessed before the tribunals of the world. 

The rattle of revolving wheels announced 
that the carriage was gone and that Nellie 
would reappear in a moment. From the blue 
empyrean, to which Stella had ascended, she de- 
scended suddenly to the earth; and Weston, 
shocked at his own indiscretion in speaking such 
words to a child, in order to shield her agitation 
stepped quickly forward to meet Nellie. 

‘‘You have had quite a lengthy confab,’’ he 
remarked easily. 

“Yes, a most lucky meeting; two of my best 
friends — the Rivers girls — returning from The 
White. They met Miss Roulard and were 
charmed with her. They will he coming over 
soon, and I requested them to acquaint all their 
friends and mine with our guest’s arrival.” 
Then, “I am sorry there are no very attractive 
specimens of the genus homo in the neighbor- 
hood, hut it is because all the brightest and most 
enterprising young men have gone to the cities 
to push their fortunes. ’ ’ 

Stella remained in the rear as they now took 


7 


98 


STELLA HOPE 


up the homeward march, thus escaping any 
scrutiny or comment. If Nellie had ceased talk- 
ing a moment to look back she would have seen 
her young cousin, no longer running hither and 
thither, but walking slowly, her eyes occasional- 
ly raised to heaven in an ecstasy of feeling. To 
her all nature had suddenly undergone a trans- 
formation. As in her dream, she was walking 
on air, in a new world whose monarch was 
Love; and even after she entered the house, 
and went mechanically about her duties, she 
seemed to be still in a blissful dream; for had 
he not intimated that some time, somewhere in 
the future, there should arrive a glorious day, 
in which sun, moon, and stars should conjoin 
their auspicious influences to unite forever two 
rapturous hearts? 

Unconscious ‘Hhat her face shone,” she was 
once more recalled to earth by the sharp voice 
of her aunt. 

‘^Stella! what on earth are you dreaming 
about? Don’t you see that you have placed the 
sugar-bowl where the flowers should be ’ 

From this moment the lynx eyes of her aunt 
were fixed scrutinizingly upon her; and when 
that discerning woman retired for the night she 
knew, as far as her niece was concerned, the 
true state of the case. Though she discovered 
nothing on Weston’s side, she was boiling over 
with indignation ; for she entertained no doubt 
that he was aware of the girl’s infatuation, even 
if he had not encouraged it. 

She found it impossible to believe that he 


STELLA HOPE 


99 


could reciprocate it, because, in spite of bis 
present position and her dislike of what she was 
pleased to designate his presumption, she could 
not but admit to herself that he was handsome, 
cultured, and gentlemanly. 

That he should, under her very roof, dare to 
encourage such sentiments in the bosom of a 
silly child angered her to such a degree that she 
determined to tax him with it the next day, and 
threaten him with Will’s displeasure, if he did 
not desist immediately. 

Accordingly, she invited Weston into the par- 
lor next morning. 

^^Pray be seated,” she said icily. 

And when, somewhat surprised at her man- 
ner, he had taken his seat, she gathered all her 
weapons of attack and opened the battle. 

^‘Mr. Weston, are you aware what you are 
doing ? ” 

hope so, truly. Madam,” he replied in evi- 
dent surprise. 

His tone angered her, and she went on sharp- 
ly^ . ... 

^^Are you aware, sir, that that silly girl is 
beginning to regard you with a very partial 
eye 1 ’ ’ 

The brusqueness of the question angered 
Weston in turn. 

^^That is a very delicate subject. Madam, and 
I prefer not to answer it, if you please,” he 
answered with dignity. 

Mrs. Haughton grew impatient. 

see, sir, that I am not to expect candor 

Lorc. 


100 


STELLA HOPE 


from you; therefore I am compelled to be the 
more direct myself. I will not ask to what de- 
gree you have been culpable, but I must tell you 
that I desire an end of it at once. It is plain 
that she has bestowed her silly affections on 
you. I cannot believe that any one of your age, 
possessed of moderate intelligence, can see any- 
thing to admire in a diffident, awkward, manner- 
less girl. I therefore most peremptorily forbid, 
while you remain under my roof, any further 
notice of her whatever.’’ 

Weston had listened with great composure 
till she paused ; then he asked calmly, 

^ ‘ Have you finished, Madam “F ’ ’ 

^ ‘ That depends, ’ ’ she answered tartly. 

‘‘Well, then, first of all I must deny the 
charge that I have sought to encourage any 
such sentiment as that to which you allude. 
That your niece is devoid of beauty, intelli- 
gence, and other attractions I must also emphat- 
ically deny; for I see in her more to admire 
than some of her relations appear to perceive. 
So quick, indeed, is her intellect, that I have 
been taking it upon myself to advise her as to a 
course of study at home ; for I saw her fine ca- 
pacities running to waste for want of proper 
cultivation. I saw that her heart was warm — ” 
“Entirely too warm,” sarcastically. 

“ — ^but that her life was isolated, through 
lack of sympathy, and that she was allowed to 
run wild with companions unsuited to her. ’ ’ 
Mrs. Haughton grew red with suppressed 
anger. 


STELLA HOPE 


101 


‘‘Sir, you speak with a free tongue. No 
doubt you would presume to teach me my duty. 
But this I have now to say, that unless you will 
promise me, on your word of honor, to have no 
more to do with her, I will report the matter to 
Will, and request him to get another companion. 
A few days of coldness and avoidance on your 
part will be all that is necessary ; and she will 
forget you as a child forgets its nurse. ’ ’ 

She waited for his reply. 

“I shall assuredly never treat her otherwise 
than kindly. I would not wound her sensibili- 
ties for the world,’’ he answered determinedly. 

It was in vain that the incensed matron de- 
manded entire renunciation. He would prom- 
ise nothing else than to treat her as a valued 
friend in whom he felt a most kindly interest. 

“At any rate,” she said, rising, “it is my 
privilege to keep her away from you, and I will 
see to it that you shall have no opportunity for 
private speech with her again,” and she sailed 
majestically from the room. 

“Poor girl ! I am afraid I have made matters 
worse for you,” said Weston to himself as he 
went moodily to his room. 

His zeal for hunting had slackened much of 
late, and he now went to Will ; but seeing him 
and Nellie together, and apparently having a 
good time, he was turning away when he met 
Marie. She proposed whist, and the four made 
up a game. 


CHAPTER XI 


precious cliild, welcome home again, 
was Mrs. Haughton’s greeting to Ethel; and 
after a kiss and embrace she turned to Miss 
Roulard. 

‘‘And this is the dear friend of whom we have 
heard so much,’’ kissing the visitor’s cheek. 
Then she passed her on to Marie and Nellie, 
both of whom welcomed her in the same 
fashion. 

To a guest from more hyperborean regions, 
this reception might have appeared a trifle 
forced, but to the warm-hearted child of the 
South there was nothing exaggerated about it; 
for in her own home Ethel would have been re- 
ceived in the same hearty fashion. 

From the moment of her arrival Miss Rou- 
lard was as free and unconstrained as if she 
had known every member of the family for 
years. 

‘ ‘ Dear me ! ’ ’ she exclaimed ecstatically, run- 
ning the length of the portico and peeping 
around toward the magnificent oak forest, 
“what a delightful home! Just my ideal of 
what an old Virginia homestead should he. 
What stately trees, and what a grand old ave- 
nue ! Oh ! how I wish mere, and perCy and Bet- 
tine, and Louis were all here to see. I am quite 
sure pere would want to enter at once into ne- 
gotiations to buy it. But I know, my dear Mrs. 


STELLA HOPE 


103 


Haughton, the mines of Peru would scarcely 
tempt you to part with all this. ’ ’ 

‘^Dear Mrs. Haughton/^ recognizing in these 
girlish raptures only the desire of expressing 
appreciation, with no ultimate design of a hona- 
fide offer of purchase, replied with effusion, 
‘‘No, indeed, my dear. Every inch of my an- 
cestral estate is as loved as — as the recollec- 
tions that cluster around the hearth-stone. ’ ’ 
“Ah! I suppose so; but you must not any 
of you call me Miss Roulard ; call me Marguer- 
ite, or Rita, as they do at home. ^ ’ 

“I see you are a dear little humming-bird 
that we shall all want to cage and keep with 
us,’’ said Marie, putting her arm around the 
slender waist and drawing her toward the hall. 
“Come, I know the wings of even a humming- 
bird must grow tired sometimes ; come and re- 
fresh yourself before tea.” 

‘ ‘ Oh ! not just yet ; I want to tell you all what 
a belle your Ethel was. ’ ’ 

“Mama, I know you will not take that state- 
ment seriously,” said Ethel deprecatingly, 
“There can be but one belle where Miss Rou- 
lard is ” ; but Mrs. Haughton having kissed her 
youngest daughter for her own sake now added 
another kiss for the sake of the alleged belle- 
dom. 

After Rita had followed Marie within, Ethel 
continued enthusiastically, 

“Dear mama, I had so many invitations 
showered upon me for the winter. One very 
wealthy lady from far-away San Francisco, who 


104 


STELLA HOPE 


has no daughters, but several sons, insists on 
my making her a six-months’ visit this coming 
winter. What a glorious time I might have hut 
for the lack of a little money.” 

‘‘Ah! well, my daughter, don’t let that worry 
you now. No one knows what the future may 
have in store for you. ’ ’ 

Nellie, why are you so silent?” inquired 
Ethel, suddenly turning toward her. 

‘‘Oh! just because I am so entertained listen- 
ing, I suppose. Besides, having been nowhere 
I have nothing to tell. ’ ’ 

“I wouldn’t be envious,” retorted Ethel. 

“Envious! Not I, assuredly. I certainly 
would not have exchanged places with you, ’ ’ re- 
plied Nellie, laughing good-humoredly and tak- 
ing no notice of her younger sister’s imperti- 
nence. 

“Well, old fellow, isn’t it time to be donning 
your dress-suit, as I suppose will now be the 
order of the day?” said Weston, as he came into 
Will’s room. 

For answer the latter smiled a little sadly. 

“I had thought to keep my room until you 
could report on her. If she be a la Ethel, I 
shall be disposed to remain a recluse till her de- 
parture. I can no longer stand pitying glances 
and honied, heartless phrases. I think I will 
leave here soon, any way. ’ ’ 

Weston was silent, and Will continued, 

“It may be that I am more sensitive and de- 
spondent than I should be, because my improve- 


STELLA HOPE 


105 


ment does not keep pace with my desires. But 
I have now a greater, a more intense aspiration 
than ever to escape permanent deformity. I 
have no doubt you have divined the cause T' 
with a faint blush. 

Yes, my dear friend, and I trust for her sake 
as well as your own that you may be entirely 
cured. ’ ’ 

Her sake ! You cannot, for an instant, sup- 
pose — 

‘‘I am quite sure of it,’’ answered Weston 
with conviction, throwing his arm affectionately 
round Will’s shoulder. 

‘impossible!” cried the latter vehemently, 
but his face became irradiated. 

“Why impossible? Have you not all the 
qualities of mind and heart best calculated to 
win a woman’s love? I am convinced that even 
if you should always remain as you are, her su- 
preme joy would be to share that misfortune 
with you, consoling you with her love. ’ ’ 

“Oh, how mistaken you must be!” turning 
away his face, to hide his emotion. 

“Not I. I have so frequently of late sur- 
prised the same earnest, tender look in her eyes 
when she is regarding you. ’ ’ 

“Pity for my misfortune, only,” he mur- 
mured bitterly. 

“No; pity does not call up blushes, nor that 
look which was ‘never yet on land or sea.’ So 
cheer up ; there is great happiness waiting you 
in the future. ’ ’ 


106 


STELLA HOPE 


Will grasped Weston’s hand fervently, say- 
ing slowly, 

I dared hope so I wonld leave for Europe 
to-morrow, and place myself under the treat- 
ment of the most famous foreign physicians; 
and I would never return until I might stand 
upright among my fellows, and declare my love. 
Without it I could never accept the sacrifice, not 
even were I restored to health and strength but 
left with this crooked spine. Heavens! how 
blest I might have been but for this. ’ ’ 

There was so much of anguish in his gesture 
and tone that his friend felt in every fibre of 
his heart the pity of it. 

''You exaggerate your deformity,” he said. 
"If you could have seen yourself at first you 
might be excused for talking so ; but I do assure 
you, on the honor of a gentleman, that you are 
absolutely straight in comparison with what 
you were at first. There is no reason why, if 
you have improved so much, — and it is mostly 
since you have been here that I have noted the 
improvement, — ^you may not soon be entirely re- 
stored. ’ ’ 

With such assurances, earnest and sincere, 
Will was comforted, and his spirits rose to the 
point of cheerfulness and almost gaiety. 

He was seated in his accustomed place when 
the new guest appeared on the portico, shortly 
before tea. 

Ethel, mindful of her former rudeness, and 
hoping much from a prolonged sojourn of the 
invalid at Oaklands, moved toward him in ad- 


STELLA HOPE 


107 


vance of her friend, greeting him with marked 
cordiality and expressing great pleasure at his 
improved appearance. Then she shook hands 
wdth Weston graciously, presenting her friend. 

Miss Poulard bowed gracefully, and smiled 
charmingly ; and turning toward Will, she said, 
in her musical Southern voice, with just a soup- 
gon of tender interest, 

have heard so much about ^Cousin WilP 
that I am not content to meet him as an entire 
stranger, I must shake hands.’’ 

Will took the small hand in his own; and, be- 
fore be released it he gazed a moment steadily 
in her eyes in order to discern the sincerity or 
falsity of these kindly accents. She met Ihe 
scrutiny calmly, and smiled upon him with the 
friendliest beam in her soft brown eyes. He was 
satisfied; and from that moment became her 
staunch and admiring friend. 

She was charmingly lovely as she stood there. 
Her petite, graceful figure was most becomingly 
clothed in some soft, sheeny, semi-diaphanous 
material of creamy tint, that enhanced the dark 
hair and rich complexion. A single rose was in 
her hair, and the priceless lace upon her bosom 
was caught with a cluster of pale pink ones. 

She sank into a chair beside the invalid, and 
was soon, in her pretty, easy style, in an ani- 
mated discussion with him and Weston as to the 
relative merits of the four cardinal sections of 
the United States, as places of residence, call- 
ing on first one and then another of her audi- 


108 STELLA. HOPE 

tors to admit some claim she was making for 
her Southland. 

When Nellie, who had been attending to do- 
mestic matters, appeared. Miss Poulard 
jumped up impulsively from her seat and ran 
forward to meet her. 

‘‘You must come and sit beside me,’’ she said, 
taking Nellie’s hand, and drawing her down by 
her. 

“I have become acquainted with Marie, but 
you I have scarcely seen. Why were you not at 
The White with us?” she asked. 

Nellie, the soul of candor, was about to give 
the true cause — ^her mother’s financial ina- 
bility — ^when she caught an anxious, warning 
glance from Ethel. Checked in her desire to 
tell the truth, yet wishing to save her sister’s 
feelings, she hesitated, blushed, and said, 

“Mama could not well spare Marie and my- 
self; and I wished to stay at home on Cousin 
Will’s account” — a declaration that sent a 
thrill of happiness to the bosom of that young 
man. 

“Stella, you can go now, and change your 
dress for tea,” said her aunt, as the girl, her 
duties performed, stood leaning against the buf- 
fet. Pursuant to her avowed policy, all day 
long had the determined matron kept her under 
her eye, employed in some necessary or unneces- 
sary occupation. 

To Stella, ignorant of the conversation be- 
tween Mrs. Haughton and Weston, these domes- 
tic duties had been no hardship; and she had 


STELLA HOPE 


109 


been delighted to contribute to the general prep- 
aration for the expected guest. While her 
hands had been busy, happy thoughts had kept 
her mind engaged. The remembrance of what 
had occurred the preceding afternoon was now 
more like some sweet, incomplete dream than a 
waking reality. Still, one blissful thought dom- 
inated her being. He loved her. Of course, she 
told herself, it would be years and years before 
she could be worthy of all his love, but she would 
strive, by study and cultivation, to be worthy 
finally. 

Aroused from her reverie by her aunt’s voice 
she descended from the fair heights of fancy to 
terra-firma. As she was going, Mrs. Haughton 
said to her. 

Don’t put on your best dress, but the other; 
you know which. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh ! Aunt Kate, it is so short ; please let me 
wear my new one ; I will be very careful. ’ ’ 

‘‘Put on your second-best ; and plait your hair 
in the old way. I do not like the style in which 
you have been wearing it of late. ’ ’ 

“Please, oh! please. Aunt Kate, don’t make 
me wear my hear in those stiff, horrid plaits. It 
is so unbecoming.” 

Unbecoming! So you are beginning to 
think about looks! What next? Beaux, per- 
haps. Go, at once, and dress precisely as I have 
said, or remain in your room for the evening. ’ ’ 
Stella turned away slowly, knowing how vain 
would be remonstrance or entreaty. She was at 
a loss to understand Mrs. Haughton ’s sudden 


110 


STELLA HOPE 


predilection for stiff, uncompromising plaits. 
Even he had told her they were unsuited to her 
style. He would think her careless of his opin- 
ion. 

Bitter tears sprang to her eyes, and she al- 
most accepted the harsh alternative of remain- 
ing in her room. One consideration determined 
her — she had not had a word with Weston all 
day and his smile would be a compensation for 
all disappointments. 

Her dress was not so short as she had 
thought, and she arranged her hair in two loose 
braids, promising herself to slip the ribbons 
later, so as to let the ends become unplaited. 
Accordingly, she descended, not entirely dissat- 
isfied. 

^‘Come here, Stella, and help me draw the 
table cloth a little more to this side; it is not 
straight, ’ ’ requested her aunt, when Stella made 
her appearance. Then, when the cloth was ar- 
ranged, Mrs. Haughton said calmly, 

‘‘Now go back, and plait your hair tightly, 
just as you used to wear it. ’ ’ 

By the time the distressed girl had rear- 
ranged the hair as commanded, tea was an- 
nounced and she heard the chatter of gay voices 
as the whole party went into the supper-room. 

Too diffident to go in alone, and be presented 
so formally, she ran down to the portico, and 
sinking into a chair waited, until she heard them 
returning. Clearing the steps at a bound, she 
got out just in time to avoid the meeting ; and 
having eaten a silent meal, her aunt dryly said. 


STELLA HOPE 


111 


you may go and meet Ethel and her 

friend/^ 

To go and be presented, a country-bred girl 
like herself, to such an exquisitely cultured scion 
of generations of wealth and refinement as Miss 
Eoulard would be a trying ordeal; but remem- 
bering what Weston had said to her, and know- 
ing that he was now looking on, critically per- 
haps, she summoned courage and went through 
it with a gratifying composure not unaccom- 
panied by a certain girlish grace. Turning 
away, after answering becomingly a remark or 
two, she was seeking her dark corner, when Mrs. 
Haughton called her to a seat beside herself. 

Rita was the center of the whole admiring 
group, and kept the ball of conversation merrily 
rolling; laughing, and illuminating her gay 
sallies with occasional flashes of wit and satire, 
as brilliant and harmless as sheet lightning. 

To listen silently was a new delight to Stella. 

It was a revelation of what a fascinating 
woman could be, and it caused her no astonish- 
ment nor pang to see Will and Weston leaning 
toward the bright creature in undisguised ad- 
miration. 

^^My dear Mrs. Haughton,’’ Rita exclaimed, 
turning toward her, ‘^can you tolerate such 
audacity? I am positively indignant. Please, 
Mr. Willoughby, have the goodness to repeat 
the assertion you made just before Mrs. Haugh- 
ton came out,” and she pouted and tossed her 
head in affected displeasure. 

‘^Certainly,” replied Will, laughing, ‘^and all 


112 


STELLA HOPE 


the more willingly because I believe Cousin 
Kate will agree with me. Weston and myself, 
Cousin Kate, assert that in sentiments of the 
heart men are the more generous, more willing 
to ignore social distinctions, more ready, in 
short, to immolate themselves upon the altar of 
Hymen than women. 

immolate! There you lose your argu- 
ment, sir; for when a man recognizes that he 
has made a sacrifice, we may know that ‘ Sweet 
Love is slain. ’ To a woman there is no sacrifice 
in what she gives up for love’s sweet sake. 
Marie, Nellie, Ethel — ^is it not soT’ 

Marie and Ethel made no decided answer; 
but discreetly allowed Nellie to be their spokes- 
woman. She replied, 

‘Wes, Rita, your distinction is well made, to 
which I will add that, so long as the man or the 
woman possesses the qualities calculated to in- 
spire love, so long will love be requited with 
love; and there wdll be no sense of sacrifice 
whatever. ’ ’ 

“Ah! there you are begging the question, 
which was not what the nobler sort of man or 
woman would do, or feel under certain circum- 
stances, but what the majority of either sex 
would do,” said Weston. 

“Yes, and Mr. Willoughby did our sex the 
great injustice to assert that under reverses, 
such as loss of fortune, or caste, and even acci- 
dental deformation of person, the majority of 
us would consider such reverses ample excuse 
for breaking an engagement. Am I not quoting 


STELLA HOPE 


113 


you correctly, sirP’ and Eita cast upon Hm a 
glance from her limpid brown eyes ; at the same 
time lifting a menacing finger. 

Will laughingly retorted, 

‘Hf Eichard were himself again, and able 
in the event of failure to maintain his original 
proposition, to beat a precipitate retreat, he 
might reiterate it; but with such a formidable 
array of capable opponents against him he will 
lower his colors for the present. We are all 
ready to acknowledge that Irving’s sketch, ‘The 
Wife,’ is a most charming picture, of constancy 
and devotion under reverse of fortune ; but is it, 
in the majority of cases, true to 

“Yes, certainly,” answered Eita promptly; 
but Nellie only murmured in a low tone, “I hope 
so, indeed. ’ ’ 

Will remarked, “Cousins Marie and Ethel, 
you are silent; what say you?” to which Ethel 
adroitly replied, 

“I am too inexperienced in afiFairs of the 
heart to be entitled to an opinion. Ask me five 
years hence. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Cousin Marie ? ’ ’ 

“Well, yes ; I suppose it is a true picture.” 

“Cousin Kate, your verdict.” 

Stella listened breathless for this answer. ^ 

“I should say a wife’s place is always by ‘her 
husband’s side, so long as he compels her to no 
ignominy,” she replied. 

‘ ‘ Oh ! I see you take it with a grain of salt. I 
did not speak solely of a wife, but of an engaged 


9 


114 


STELIA HOPE 


person as well. The one should feel almost as 
much bound as the other. Let’s have the opinion 
of you all to that. ’ ’ 

The answers to this direct question were op- 
posite, but emphatic; Will, Weston, Pita, and 
Nellie taking the affirmative; Mrs. Haughton, 
Marie, and Ethel, the negative. Quite unexpect- 
edly to all — ^no less than to Stella herself, who 
had been listening silently, yet with a decided 
opinion. Will turned to her and said, 

‘^Stella, Cousin Kate’s broader experience 
entitles her to a double vote, and we are there- 
fore a hung jury. We will assume that you have 
had no experience and, consequently, no preju- 
dice. Would you consider an engagement as 
binding as the marriage-vow f” 

This question turned the eyes of the whole 
party inquisitively upon her ; but though blush- 
ing deeply, she answered ‘‘Yes” so decidedly 
that Marie wickedly said, 

“Stella may have had more experience than 
you imagine. There once was, I believe, a cer- 
tain Cousin Tom.” 

“At any rate, the ayes have it; and I move 
that we all unite in asking Miss Poulard to give 
us some music. I know you sing, I see it in your 
face, and have already heard it in your voice. 
Will you not oblige us I” 

When they had all entered the parlor, the 
change in Stella’s appearance was more notice- 
able, and she saw the look of disappointment on 
Weston’s face. She was bitterly distressed ; but 
when she looked toward him again he had 


STELLA HOPE 


115 


turned away and was standing by Eita, pre- 
pared to turn her music; but his office was a 
sinecure. She sang as sings the nightingale, 
and with as evident enjoyment. 

She used no notes; or, if Weston placed them 
before her eyes, she did not regard them; she 
threw back her head, warbling and trilling, 
shaking out a shower of liquid notes, round and 
rich. Now they were plaintive, as if lamenting 
a dead mate, then soaring with the lark to greet 
the rising sun. Upon the operatic stage, her 
voice would have made her fortune. 

Will — as indeed all her audience — ^was en- 
chanted ; but Stella, enthusiastic in music as in 
every other beautiful thing, had no words to ex- 
press her profound delight. She sat apart, 
thrilled to the heart; but as she noted Weston, 
bending in admiration toward the fair singer, a 
sharp pain contracted her heart, and again, as 
once before, she felt a presage of coming evil. 


CHAPTER XII 


In a few days Rita, with her gracious man- 
ners, had captivated every member of the house- 
hold; and it was the concensus of opinion that 
there was neither coquetry nor vanity in her 
nature. She took a great fancy to Stella, and 
drew the heart out of the bosom of that shy 
maiden as no one had ever done before. Com- 
pellingly, she also drew her out of her shell in a 
manner astonishing to the whole family. It was 
the delight of the girl to sit and listen, en- 
tranced, to the music of Rita’s voice, charmed 
into saddened rapture. 

Once she had been thrilled by the plaintive 
melody of ‘‘Kathleen Mavourneen,” and when 
Rita had finished it, Stella softly asked, 

“What is the meaning of Mavourneenf^^ 

“It means my darling/^ replied she, little 
guessing what a thrill she was sending to the 
young heart concealed under that silent ex- 
terior. 

Rarely now had she more than a passing word 
from Weston — sometimes not for the whole 
day; and never once since the arrival of Rita 
had he mentioned the neglected lessons. Her 
heart ached continually with a vague fear lest, 
in some unconscious way, she had ofiPended him. 

That he must of necessity be compelled to 
worship Rita she sorrowfully, but unhesitat- 
ingly, admitted to herself; but this admission 


STELLA HOPE 


117 


sent no balm to her heart, no forgetfulness of 
the words he had whispered to herself. 

In all the arrangements which were being 
made to furnish entertainment for the guest, 
Will, on account of his disability, and Stella, by 
her aunt’s design, were excluded. Thus, while 
all of the gay household were away on some ex- 
cursion of pleasure, these two were thrown 
much together, and soon became confidential 
friends. 

Will would lead her on to talk of Nellie, 
whose praises Stella never tired of sounding; 
while he would entertain her with stories of his 
own and Weston’s frolicsome boyhood, and pic- 
ture the free life of the West, which delighted 
her nature-loving soul. 

Late one afternoon, on a day when the whole 
party had been absent on a boating excursion 
and picnic, Mrs. Haughton, Will, and Stella 
were sitting on the portico, looking for the re- 
turn. The latter, glancing frequently down the 
long avenue, at length exclaimed, 

^‘Oh! Aunt Kate, look! There they are; such 
a long line of them. ’ ’ 

Mrs. Haughton looked. 

Mercy on us! they are going to give us a 
surprise-party.” 

Truly the approaching cavalcade was a large 
p.arty, and a surprise of the first magnitude; for 
there were carriages, buggies, spring-wagons, 
and equestrians in formidable numbers ; such as 
might well cause dismay to a less energetic and 


118 STELLA HOPE 

practical housekeeper than the mistress of Oak- 
lands. 

The motto of that matron might well have 
been ‘^Nunquam non parata/^ and she did not 
quail now. She was standing calm and smiling 
on the portico as they arrived — a half-abashed 
but merry throng. 

They trooped apologetically around her, be- 
seeching her not to put herself to any trouble 
for them, but only to allow them to dance that 
evening in her grand old hall or sitting-room. 

Rita came deprecatingly but smilingly up to 
her. 

‘^Dear Mrs. Haughton, you must blame me 
for it all. When I heard of such a delightfully 
novel gathering as a surprise-party, I took it 
upon myself to propitiate you. ’ ’ 

‘‘My dear Miss Roulard, as well as young 
ladies and gentlemen all, not another word un- 
less you wish to impugn my hospitality. I had 
intended quite an atfair, next week, in Rita’s 
honor, with a regular band of music from town ; 
but since you desire to dance this evening, my 
house, with all it contains, is entirely at your 
service. I trust you may one and all enjoy the 
occasion as much as I shall enjoy having you,” 
and Mrs. Haughton smiled most blandly upon 
the assembled group. 

“Oh! you dear, sweet woman,” cried Rita. 
“I am so glad that we have forestalled you and 
saved you unnecessary preparation. But you 
really must allow us all to help you. ’ ’ 

“All the assistance I need, my dear, can be 


STELLA HOPE 


119 


supplied by my ordinary corps. Do you — every 
one — go and rest; for I know how tired you 
must be. Get as much beauty-sleep as possible 
in the next three hours. Ben will look after the 
gentlemen. ’ ’ 

The whole party, having speedily vanished, 
Mrs. Haughton marshaled her forces. 

A few moments more, and there was hurrying 
to and fro in pantry, dining-room, and kitchen ; 
the clatter of pots and pans, the beating of eggs, 
the pounding of ice; while a fearful slaughter 
was raging in the poultry-yard. 

Under the directions of the mistress, Stella 
and Betty, the waitress, were arranging the 
tables with all the best china, glass and silver- 
ware that the establishment atforded. Ben, 
with several dusky assistants was carrying 
water and towels to the rooms of the men, and 
polishing shoes, while others still were remov- 
ing rugs and polishing the floors. 

Nellie was later summoned to superintend the 
disposing of the Japanese lanterns around the 
verandas and grounds. 

The energetic chatelaine proved herself equal 
to the occasion ; and last, but not least, she had 
brought from a considerable distance three very 
capable musicians. And when, later, these 
struck up with a popular waltz, there were 
many exclamations of delight from the girls in 
the rooms above. Eager debutantes, flushing 
with anticipated pleasure, tied their sashes with 
trembling hands, driving pins into their tender 


120 


STELLA HOPE 


fingers, while impatient feet kept time to the 
music below. 

When the signal was given for descent, each 
young lady was met at the foot of the broad 
stairway by her waiting cavalier, and the en- 
trance march began. 

Light and graceful forms were soon floating 
through the mazes of the lancers and cotillion, 
or in each interval between the square dances 
eager masculine voices were begging the honor 
of a round dance. 

‘‘The Belle of The White Sulphur,’^ as Marie 
and Ethel took especial pains to denominate' 
Miss Eoulard. was besieged with requests for 
one round dance, till her tablets were full; so 
that when Weston, who on account of Will had 
come into the ball-room somewhat late, ap- 
proached her, she shook her tablets laughingly 
at him, saying, 

“Too late, too late, thou laggard!” 

“Please do not say so; remember, there is 
always room for one more. ’ ^ 

“Can you compass the impossible?” smiling 
archly. 

“Let^s see. You have heard of that oriental 
Society of the Silent, whose motto was ‘ Speech 
is silvern, but Silence is golden,’ haven’t you?” 

“Yes ; so I must not speak to you to-night. Is 
that what you would request, as I cannot give 
you a waltz?” 

“My ambition is not so vaulting. I shall be 
content with silver. But you no doubt remem- 
ber that when an applicant for admission to that 


STELLA HOPE 


321 


famed society preferred his request he was 
silently shown a brimming goblet. What did he 
do? Did he go away disappointed? By no 
means. He saw a rose leaf on the ground ; and, 
picking it np, he laid it softly on the brimming 
water, without spilling a drop, and thus gained 
admission. Let me be that roseleaf on your 
tablet.” 

She laughed merrily at the conceit. Then she 
said, 

‘‘You deserve one dance for that; hut I must 
be the rose-leaf, if you please; though I would 
not like to see you a brimming glass. ’ ’ 

WTiile she had been speaking his rapid glance 
took in the details of her exquisite toilette — ^pale 
pink robe and the shimmer of pearls ; her star- 
like eyes, cast down upon her tablets until the 
long dark lashes swept the delicately tinted 
cheek, pale in comparison wdth the rich coral of 
her lips. 

Weston smiled at the mal-appropriateness of 
alluding to himself as a rose-leaf in the presence 
of this peerless, semi-tropical flower. 

She looked up, and catching his amused ex- 
pression he told her the cause. She replied, 

“It might not have sounded so ridiculous 
when your sex were accustomed to wear gay 
silks, satins, and velvets. Fancy Coeur-de-Lion 
in bridal attire of silver tissue over pink silk; 
or the gay Duke of Buckingham in blue silk, 
closely embroidered in eyelets, from each of 
which depended a glittering needle. It is the 
modern man who has departed from the gor- 


122 


STELLA HOPE 


geous colors that Nature designed for him, to 
distinguish the stronger, or, shall I say, the 
superior sex from the weaker P’ 

^ ^ The modern man has had the discrimination 
to recognize the fact that your sex, through 
their weakness, have become the stronger ; just 
as St. Paul says, ‘When I was weak, then was I 
strong,’ ” he answered gallantly. But at that 
moment a waltz was being played, and Rita’s 
partner claimed her. 

It was late before Stella found herself at lib- 
erty to dress for the dance. Her choice of a 
gown was limited by the scantiness of her ward- 
robe and the suddenness of the invasion; but 
when she emerged from her room, and encoun- 
tered Rita and Ethel in the upper hall, the 
former exclaimed at the transformation in her 
appearance, and drew her into her own room to 
add a few graceful touches to coiffure and dress. 

“Now go, and enjoy yourself, you dear, sweet 
thing,” said Rita, kissing her on the blushing 
cheek to which her own kind words had brought 
the flush, in no wise marring the fresh complex- 
ion of the grateful girl, who, too timid to enter 
the ball-room alone, waited to go down under 
the wing of Rita. 

The german was not to begin until refresh- 
ments had been served, in order to give all those 
unfamiliar with those figures an opportunity 
to enjoy the dances known to them. 

Stella had never seen nor taken part in any 
but the simplest square dances ; but she was pos- 
sessed of much natural grace, and was keenly 


STELLA HOPE 


123 


alive to music and rhythmic motion. She had 
not for a moment supposed that any one would 
ask her to dance. 

It was, therefore, with as much surprise as 
delight that immediately on her entrance she re- 
ceived from a youthful swain an invitation to 
take part in a cotillion then forming. 

She was disposed to decline, but her feet 
would keep time with the lively music, and ere 
she could consider how little she knew of the 
figure, those same feet had borne her irresisti- 
bly upon the floor. Weston had punctiliously 
observed toward her the line of conduct to 
which he had obligated himself ; but he 
considered it no breach of promise to say to 
her in passing, 

^^Now you look like Nature designed,’’ and 
again presently, ‘Won dance as lightly and as 
gracefully as a fairy. ’ ’ 

These were simple and commonplace compli- 
ments, but for the time rendered her extremely 
happy. 

The generous and delicious supper having 
been served, the time for the german arrived. 
Then Stella looked on with renewed interest, 
and for the first time in her young life realized 
the poetry of motion wedded to music. It was 
exemplified in Weston and Rita, the former 
handsomer than she had ever seen him, and the 
latter as beautiful as a houri. But a pain, 
sharp as thorns, pierced her heart when she 
saw that lovely form encircled by Weston’s 
arm, and a shadow fell on her young life. 


124 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘He loves her,’’ she said to herself, which in 
her simple code was equivalent to, “They love 
each other,” for, she argued, “Who could be 
insensible to his perfections!” 

There was no more pleasure for her after 
this ; and the youth who had first led her on the 
fioor, now approaching her, found her taciturn 
and unresponsive. 

Will, up to the present time, had been an in- 
terested spectator, and had enjoyed snatches of 
conversation with Rita and his cousins in the 
intervals of the dance. Now they were all in the 
german, and Stella, seeing him look dejected, 
came, prompted by a similar feeling, to cheer 
him. 

“Were you ever fond of dancing. Cousin 
Will?” she asked. 

“Yes; when I was like other men,” he an- 
swered gloomily; then, more brightly, “You 
appear to enjoy it very much yourself, little 
Cousin.” 

“Yes, exceedingly; but my knowledge of it is 
very slight. Don’t you think Miss Rita the most 
beautifuhand angelic creature in the world ? ’ ’ 

Will laughed. “I am not quite prepared to 
say in the world, but she is beautiful and win- 
ning. Weston appears to think so, doesn’t he?” 

If he had wished to slay poor Stella he could 
not have devised a surer means. A suspicion of 
Weston’s regard for her or of her attachment to 
liim had never entered his mind; and he was 
now totally unconscious of the cruel stab he was 


STELLA HOPE 125 

inflicting. She murmured something brokenly 
and turned away. 

At this moment Mrs. Haughton sent a mes- 
sage to know whether Will wished to take a 
hand at whist ; but, pleading fatigue, he retired 
to his room. 

Left alone, Stella, striving to conquer the 
pain gnawing at her heart, and to be alone, wan- 
dered out to a secluded spot upon the lantern- 
lighted lawn. There she sat down in a rustic 
seat, and leaned her head against the rough bark 
of a tree and gave way to her anguish in a dull, 
dumb fashion. No sentiment of jealousy to- 
ward Rita or of reproach toward Weston found 
entrance to her bosom. As sometimes happens, 
in the case of young and enthusiastic natures, 
her devotion to these persons was limitless and 
sublimated. She saw in both all the qualities 
best calculated to arouse sentiments of admir- 
ation and love. 

The ditference of her regard for each was a 
mystery to herself, and she could not have ex- 
plained it in words. As her love knew no limit, 
so it recognized no ditference on account of sex ; 
she only knew that to augment the happiness of 
either she would willingly sacrifice forever her 
own. For the happiness of each in the other, 
doubly would she be willing. Only, when she 
might behold that happiness complete in wedded 
love, she would wish to claim for herself the 
privilege of the wounded doe — retirement to 
some lonely covert where she might lie down 


126 


STELLA HOPE 


and die, content to pass away, unnoticed and un- 
lamented. 

Heedless now of all things external, she sat, 
her dress limp and damp from the heavy dews, 
until the sound of approaching voices aroused 
her attention. She drew hack into the shadows 
as two men came near. One of them was saying, 

‘HsnT that Miss Poulard a stunner?” 

‘‘Yes, as bewitching as Circe. I am sorry for 
that fellow Weston.” 

‘ ‘ Shot through and through. But I am of the 
opinion that she likes him about as well as he 
likes her.” 

“Pshaw!” answered the other voice, “you 
never can tell anything about these society girls. 
They generally are only after the scalps to 
hang at their belts. Of course, she is an arrant 
coquette, and would take a man^s heart out of 
his bosom with as little compunction as that 
Poman fellow struck down the tallest poppies 
in his garden.” 

“Yes,” replied the first voice, “it is the al- 
mighty dollar they are all after. I understand 
Weston is as poor as a church mouse.” 

By this time the men had passed beyond 
Stella’s hearing, and, rising, she sought her own 
room, in no wise relieved of her anguish by the 
insinuation that Pita was only playing with 
Weston. If he had really fallen a victim to her 
charms, as she could not reasonably doubt, the 
requital of his love would cause herself less sor- 
row than to see his heart breaking for another. 

After long tossing she slept at last. In the 


STELLA HOPE 


127 


early hours before the dawn she heard the sound 
of wheels, the sound gradually dying away in 
the distance. Then she turned her face to the 
wall with a moan such as a bereaved bosom 
gives utterance to when the preceding day has 
seen consigned to the tomb all that was most 
dear. 


CHAPTER XIII 


Late in the afternoon of the following day, as 
Uncle Ben was seen approaching with the mail- 
bag, Rita claimed the privilege of distributing 
the mail, and came back with the bag in high 
glee. 

said Will, ‘^we understand why you 
wish to distribute the letters yourself — some 
disconsolate swain pouring out his lamenta- 
tions. ’ ’ 

She only laughed, without denial of the 
charge. 

‘ ^ One for you, Ethel ; one for Cousin Will, an- 
other for Ethel — always a favorite of fortune; 
one for Mrs. Haughton; none for Marie, Nellie, 
Mr. Weston, Stella or myself. Well, that is pro- 
voking. I had set my heart on at least six. I 
do not envy Mrs. Haughton her letter, because 
after her magnificent success of last night she 
deserves a dozen. Well, read away; Nellie and 
I will walk down the avenue to wear off the keen 
edge of our disappointment. ’ ’ 

While the others are busy reading their let- 
ters we will glance over Mrs. Haughton ’s 
shoulder as she reads hers. 

^‘Portland, Oregon, Sept. 11th, 189-. 

‘ ‘ Dear Mrs. Haughton : 

‘‘No doubt you will be much surprised, at this 
late day, to receive a communication from one 


STELLA HOPE 


129 


whom you have every reason to suppose dead, 
or worse. 

‘‘For years I have lived the life of a rover, 
until within a comparatively short period, in 
which I have succeeded in scraping together a 
little gold dust. This last I wish to put to some 
good use before I have a chance to scatter it 
again. I know that when I left my native State 
I had a little niece, the only child of my sister. 
After her father’s death I learned incidentally 
that she had been committed to your care. I do 
not suppose she inherited much of this world’s 
goods, as her father was almost as careless of 
his affairs as myself ; but I loved him as well as 
I did my sister; and now, even at the eleventh 
hour, I wish to do something for their daughter. 

“If she has not the means to procure the ad- 
vantages of such an education as I know her 
father desired for her, I wish you to draw upon 
me, from time to time, for such sums as may he 
necessary for this purpose. 

“Please place her at the very best school that 
you know of, and send me all the bills. As you 
will need money in advance, I enclose cheque 
for an amount sufficient to cover the expenses of 
the first session. 

“Present to my niece — Stella, I believe is her 
name — my affectionate regards; and for your- 
self and family accept my assurances of friend- 
ly esteem. 

“Very sincerely yours, 

“Eiohaed Stockton.” 


8 


130 


STELLA HOPE 


Mrs. Haughton was very seldom thrown off 
her guard, nor was she now. She made no re- 
mark, but folding the letter quietly, placed it, 
with the enclosed cheque, carefully in her 
pocket, unobservant of the interested glance 
that one of the company present, from time to 
time, as she read, cast upon her. 

Not to any member of her family did she al- 
lude to the contents of the letter until every- 
thing was quiet for the night. Then she entered 
Marie ’s room, and the two discussed all the ad- 
vantages that might accrue from Mr. Stockton’s 
generosity. 

At the same time another conversation was 
taking place in the room shared together by Eita 
and Ethel. 

Eita had just said something very compli- 
mentary of Weston, declaring him one of the 
most attractive men she had met during the en- 
tire summer. Thereupon, Ethel had taken it 
upon herself to deprecate him, and to inform 
her friend that he was merely Will’s paid com- 
panion, and as such unworthy of notice from a 
lady of social station. 

Eita had defended him warmly, the more so 
as Ethel, piqued at his scant attention to her- 
self beyond what politeness absolutely required, 
attempted to detract from his real merits. 

‘‘He is, at any rate — paid companion or not — 
a perfect gentleman, and as such entitled to the 
consideration of every lady. As to his being 
poor, that may be an accident for which he is 
not responsible. None of us is proof against 


STELLA HOPE 


131 


reverse of fortune, ’ ’ answered Eita with anima- 
tion bordering upon zeal. 

‘Hf you allow him to go on so openly as he 
has been doing of late, in his natural but very 
presumptuous admiration of you, everybody 
will doubt whether you were such a belle at The 
White as I have affirmed,’’ replied Ethel. 

‘ ^ Let them doubt, ’ ’ answered Eita scornfully. 
‘ ‘ Thank Heaven I never desired especially to be 
a belle ; certainly, not so ardently as to sacrifice 
any delicacy of feeling, or courtesy to one who, 
in every respect except money, perhaps, is your 
or my equal. I know the hall-marks of a gentle- 
man as well as any one — ^having, I presume, 
seen as many — and I am not obliged to model 
my conduct toward one of them according to 
the narrow ideas of others who would frown 
down a true gentleman, or lady of breeding and 
education who happens to make an honest living 
in a way not entirely conformable to certain an- 
tiquated ideas of aristocratic occupations. ’ ’ 

Eita had rushed on impulsively and almost in- 
dignantly through this rejoinder, until now she 
paused quite breathless and almost in tears. 

‘‘Mercy on me !” cried Ethel, recognizing that 
she had gone too far, and fearing lest Eita 
should take serious offense at her words, 
“Mercy on me! I had no idea of calling down 
wrath upon my devoted head. Cannot you al- 
low me to air a little old Virginia prejudice in 
the form of pleasantry, without ofending? 
There, invite Mr. Weston to visit you in your 
own home if you will ; I have no more to say. ’ ’ 


132 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘Certainly I shall invite him, if he comes to 
New Orleans, to call. I know mere and pere 
wonld both be delighted to meet him, even 
though he now be paid for his services. I 
scarcely suppose any one would expect him to 
give up several years, perhaps, of his time, and 
pay all his expenses, in order to remain with an 
invalid friend, unless he were a Croesus.’’ 

At this point Ethel grew conciliatory, and 
Rita being of a very forgiving nature, after a 
little more talk and the renewal of amicable re- 
lations, they fell asleep in peaceful serenity. 

So when the next evening Weston was bend- 
ing over Rita in an attitude almost devotional 
as she sat at the piano, she smiled archly at 
Ethel, and the latter replied with a slight shrug 
of one shoulder, as much as to say, ^^Chacun d 
son gout/^ 

“Don’t you sing, Mr. Weston? I really never 
thought to ask you, ’ ’ said Rita, smiling. 

“ Oh ! about as melodiously as a frog beside a 
pond, ’ ’ he declared, laughing. 

“He does sing; and quite delightfully — for a 
man, ’ ’ said Will^ who had heard the question. 

“Don’t pay any attention to him; he would, if 
he could hear nothing better, think ‘Katy-did, 
Katy-didn’t’ a most delightful aria. I wonder 
he has not died of pure ecstasy in listening to 
you and Miss Ethel,” laughed Weston. 

It was in vain that he disclaimed and asked to 
be excused. In her pretty, coaxing way she in- 
sisted till he felt constrained to yield. 

“You ought to sing one song, just to show 


STELLA HOPE 


133 


wMcli one of you is telling the truth/’ she de- 
clared. 

‘‘And you will never more ask me to sing an- 
other?” 

“Never, nevermore — if you do not sing well,” 
she laughed. 

“Well, upon that promise I will comply if you 
will allow me my own selection; will you?” 

“Assuredly.” 

“Then give me the notes of ^Marguerite/ ” 
he said, and all joined in the laugh. But Rita, 
notwithstanding that the joke was against her, 
laughed also, and rummaged in the music until 
she found the song. 

‘ ‘ Shall I play the accompaniment, or do you 
also play. Admiral Crichton?” she asked with 
color slightly heightened. 

“I will play it myself, please, as I am to give 
it my own expression, ’ ’ and he took the offered 
seat. 

He played a short prelude, and sang, throw- 
ing, for very mischief, all the feeling he was 
master of into both words and music ; and if he 
did not touch the heart of her to whom he sang, 
he stirred to the very depths of her soul one who 
listened to every word with the most intense at- 
tention ; but when he reached the lines, 

“But oh! the thought you’ll not be mine 
Will break my heart, Marguerite,” 

Stella thrilled with sharpest agony both for her- 
self and Weston; for a doubt never crossed her 


134 


STELLA HOPE 


mind that he was not singing to this Marguerite 
in most earnest, passionate appeal. 

Eita’s visit was fast drawing to a close. Not 
one in all the household, cold and selfish as some 
of them were, hut were genuinely distressed to 
see her go. Especially Will and Weston would 
miss her; and for them there was no guaranty 
that they would ever behold her again. 

After Stella had retired for the night she 
heard Eita’s voice down below in the parlor 
singing, 

“ ‘Oh! hast thou forgotten this day we must sever? 

Oh! hast thou forgotten this day we must part? 

It may be for years, and it may be forever, — 

Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?’ ” 


The pathos of the words, into which the sweet 
singer had thrown such expression as she only 
could render, struck on the writhing listener’s 
soul like the voice of doom; and burying her 
face in her pillow, to stifie her sobs, she wept till 
she fell asleep, and even then her breath came 
and went in convulsive gasps. 


CHAPTEE XIV 


‘‘My dear Rita, you have given us all so much 
pleasure by this visit that nothing will satisfy 
us but a repetition of it next summer. Tell your 
mother how very unwilling we were to comply 
with her wishes in recalling you,’^ said Mrs. 
Haughton, holding both hands of the parting 
guest as they all stood on the portico to bid her 
good-by. 

“My dear Madam — and all of you who have 
made my visit so delightful — let me declare that 
I will never die happy till I have had that pleas- 
ure again. And I shall expect my dear Ethel on 
the very first day of December, to remain till 
after Mardi Gras, at the very latest. How I 
wish, Marie, and ISlellie, that both of you were 
going, too. Cousin Will, and Mr. Weston, if you 
ever dare come to New Orleans without pre- 
viously notifying me, I will immediately erase 
your names from the list of my friends. Stella I 
where is Stella I I must say good-by to the dear 
girl.’’ 

“Stella will accompany you as far as L . 

She leaves for school this morning,” answered 
Mrs. Haughton quietly. 

There was an exclamation from Will and 
Weston — the latter turning away for a moment 
to conceal his deep indignation, while Rita said, 

“Indeed! Well, I am truly glad to have her 


136 


STELLA HOPE 


with me for at least a portion of the way. I love 
her dearly. ’ ’ 

After a few more ‘‘last words’’ she said, 
“But really and truly, I must now tear my- 
self away, or I shall be left. One more kiss 
around and then good-by indeed. ’ ’ 

“Do you include me in ‘the one more kiss all 
around?’ ” asked Will, smiling, after she had 
kissed the four ladies. “I claim the privilege 
of a cousin. There is nothing in empty titles. ’ ’ 
“I am more than half inclined to,” she an- 
swered, laughing, as she laid her hand in his 
and wished him entire recovery and much future 
happiness. Will, really affected at her depart- 
ure, raised the hand silently to his lips and 
kissed it fervently. 

“Stella, Stella! come quickly; Rita is wait- 
ing, ’ ’ called Mrs. Haughton in the hall ; and the 
next moment the young girl, closely veiled to 
hide her tear-swollen face, came out and stood 
silently. Then, unable to control her voice, she 
shook hands as silently with Will and Weston, 
raised her veil just sufficiently to kiss the female 
members of the family, and followed Rita down 
the steps and into the carriage. 

Weston assisted them in, and as he released 
Stella’s hand from a pressure in which he 
wished to convey much significance, he said, 
“Good-by, Miss Stella; I hope you will make 
good use of your time ; and, in the course of a 
few years, return — a very accomplished young 
lady. ’ ’ 

Nellie, always impulsive, ran down to the car- 


STELLA HOPE 


137 


riage just as Uncle Ben was about to drive off, 
and after giving Pita another Mss, threw both 
arms around Stella ^s neck, and whispered, 

^ ‘ Good-by, my dear girl ; I will write you fre- 
quently, and give you all the news’’ — a promise 
which was as balm to the bleeding young heart. 

Pita, who had experienced the pangs of home- 
sickness, endeavored to cheer her with gay chat- 
ter, but only half succeeded. 

The young exile’s heart quivered and palpi- 
tated with a strangely terrified dread as she 
stood upon the railway platform and heard the 
hoarse whistle of the approaching locomotive. 
She had small experience of travel, and as now 
the fierce onward rush of the engine was heard, 
it seemed like some huge mythical monster, 
breathing fire and smoke, rushing down upon 
her to snatch her away forever from all she 
loved. 

Weston remained out of doors, walking about 
the lawn until the carriage turned the corner of 
the avenue, and then he went straight to his 
room. He felt too indignant to admit of his 
even glancing toward Mrs. Haughton without 
betraying the deep displeasure for the unjust, 
yes, even cruel manner in which she had acted 
throughout this whole affair. 

The scheme had been so deliberately planned, 
so heartlessly executed; and had, no doubt, 
brought as much pain to Stella as to himself, for 
that she reciprocated his regard as sincerely as 
was possible for a girl of her age, he felt con- 


138 


STELLA HOPE 


vinced; and in his own heart he knew that her 
image wonld he cherished. 

He could not know what the future might 
bring forth, but he had determined to wait pa- 
tiently until her education should be finished, 
and then to ask her to marry him. 

He believed that she would develop into a 
noble, charming woman, once her extreme re- 
serve and shyness had iDeen polished away by 
the transforming hand of culture. Her modesty, 
so different from the loud-voiced boldness of so 
many young girls he had seen, was to him an 
added attraction. 

What must she think of meV^ he asked him- 
self many times that day and night ; and in view 
of the fact that he had made to her no explan- 
ation whatever of his abrupt change of de- 
meanor, he could not but feel persuaded that 
she would hold him a trifler with her affections, 
and a traitor, unless he explained at once. 

So poignantly did this consideration weigh 
upon him that he sat down the next day and 
wrote very freely to her, addressing the letter 
to the care of the Mother Superior of the con- 
vent to which she had been consigned. Not for 
a single day longer was he willing that she 
should entertain such an unworthy opinion of 
him, and he hastened earnestly to set her aright. 

He had given Mrs. Haughton a promise to be 
nothing more than the most casual acquaintance 
to Stella while he remained under the Haughton 
roof. The promise had extended no farther; 
and now, since she herself had taken the initia- 


STELLA HOPE 


139 


tive against the happiness of the young girl, he 
was justified in counterplotting for the resto- 
ration of her peace of mind. It behooved him 
to defend himself from unjust judgment. 

Accordingly, he wrote, at considerable length 
vindicating his position and explaining the mo- 
tive which had for its object her own personal 
freedom and serenity of mind. He counseled 
her to put aside, while at school, all thought 
of him except as of a disinterested friend, 
in order that she might give her mind undi- 
videdly to her studies. He assured her that 
in the meanwhile he would ever hold in the high- 
est regard her sweet young personality, and 
that at what future time soever he might hear 
she was emancipated from convent-walls and 
was her own mistress, he would seek her out, 
were it at the other side of the world. He de- 
clared that he by no means desired to trammel 
her affections ; he preferred rather to wait until 
her heart and judgment might be in accord, for, 
unless he might be found worthy of both, he 
would rather yield her to a worthier lover than 
have her suffer the consequences of a misplaced 
regard. He would, for several years, leave all 
to the shaping hand of the destiny which regu- 
lates human affairs, trusting always that the 
girlish interest she now entertained for him 
would strengthen with maturer years, and on 
renewal of their acquaintance ripen into the 
beautiful blossom of love. 

He begged of her a speedy reply, and ac- 


140 


STELLA HOPE 


quainted her with the fact that Will was think- 
ing of going to Europe. 

It was only through Will and Nellie that Wes- 
ton was able to secure Stella’s proper address, 
for Mrs. Haughton and the other members of 
the family were reticent upon the subject. Hav- 
ing obtained it, he went himself to the station 
and posted the letter. 

Thus far he flattered himself that he had 
countervailed Mrs. Haughton, little suspecting 
that that lady had already, in a letter committed 
to Stella for delivery, warned the Mother Supe- 
rior against attempts of a certain Mr. Weston, 
or any other young man, to establish a corre- 
spondence between himself and her niece. She 
straitly charged the Mother Superior to either 
burn such letters immediately on receipt or to 
transmit them to Mrs. Haughton herself for 
answer. 

Thus it came to pass that within three days 
after Stella’s arrival, and before any adequate 
estimate of her character could be formed, the 
letter of Weston fell, in due course of regula- 
tions, into the hands of the wise Mother and was 
carefully read and considered by her. 

The whole tone of the letter made a favorable 
impression on the pious woman’s mind; and she 
debated within herself which option she would 
take, transmit the letter to Mrs. Haughton or 
burn it. It was a little repugnant to her to ex- 
pose to the cold scrutiny of unfavorable eyes a 
letter of that sort, and she suspected from the 
tone of that lady’s letter that she was heartless 


STELLA HOPE 


141 


and calculating. Besides, there was, deep down 
in her own heart, unacknowledged to herself, a 
spot sacred to young lovers; for Sister Maria 
Agnes Josepha had been a tender-hearted 
woman before she had been Mother Superior of 
a convent ; and ere she had become the Bride of 
Heaven, and had sought divine consolation, had 
loved a mortal youth, whose untimely death had 
turned her own soul heavenward. 

It was, therefore, with pity for the sorrow 
and disappointment her rigorous but strictly 
conventional act might occasion, that she drop- 
ped the letter into the glowing grate; for it 
never occurred to her even remotely to deliver 
the missive contrary to the injunction of the 
girPs aunt and protectress. But she wrote a 
kind letter to Weston, telling him what she had 
done, and requesting him to refrain from all at- 
tempts at correspondence so strictly forbidden, 
while Stella should remain a student within the 
walls of Santa Maria of the Doves. 

Weston waited anxiously for a reply from 
Stella, which never came ; neither came the let- 
ter of the Mother Superior — lost to him, we may 
not say exactly how, but lost irrecoverably ; and 
so, after two weeks. Will quite unexpectedly an- 
nounced his almost immediate departure for 
Europe. A few days later the two friends 
sailed, bound for the Old World, where Will 
went to place himself in the hands of the most 
skilled medical experts. 

Frequently as Weston, alone at night, walked 
the deck of the steamer, he pondered with pain 


142 


STELLA HOPE 


upon the cause of Stella’s silence, never sus- 
pecting the truth, but always fearing lest her 
heart had been so sorely wounded by his appar- 
ent neglect and recalcitrancy as to be resentful 
and unforgiving. 


CHAPTEE XV 


A change from a state almost as free and un- 
trammeled as that of Indian maiden roaming 
with her wild tribe over plains and mountains 
had within the space of one short week come to 
Stella — a change so great that at times she was 
inclined to believe herself the victim of a 
strange hallucination, and that she would awake 
some morning to find her dream dispelled and 
herself back at Oaklands, living her former un- 
restricted life. But as time passed and some of 
the novelty wore off she began to realize the 
stubborn fact that henceforth for a term of 
years, whose limit she did not know, she was to 
be a quasi-prisoner ; to have no will of her own, 
not even in so small a matter as receiving or an- 
swering a letter which had not passed the cen- 
sorship of the stern Mother Superior; nay, not 
even to choose a ribbon for her hair of a color 
not prescribed by her or her aides. 

Mrs. Haughton had wisely left it to the 
Mother and the Sisters to arrange for her niece 
the course of study which they should deem 
best suited to her advancement and capacities. 
They were surprised at her attainments in some 
directions and more so at her deficiency in 
others. 

Thanks to Nellie’s thorough but somewhat 
limited instructions in music, she was able to 
take an excellent start in technique, and after 


144 


STELLA HOPE 


the half term to begin vocalization. It was in 
French and history that she showed most bril- 
liantly, because, having been started in those 
branches by Weston, they were her favorites. 

She was at first too much engrossed in her 
studies to make many friends; and it was not 
until she had become used to other girls that 
she was regarded with any favor by them ; for 
girls, in a certain way, are more heartless, or 
shall we say more conventional, more unreason- 
ably exclusive, less magnanimous, more easily 
swayed by trivialities and prejudices than boys. 
Such slight accidents as an awkward manner, 
a provincialism in speech, or even the unfash- 
ionable cut of a collar, may cause them to shun 
or even affront a fellow-pupil. 

But Stella, having a good share of natural 
vim and much character hidden under that 
shrinking exterior, lived down all adverse criti- 
cism, and steadily progressed toward the front 
ranks. 

The letters of Nellie, every month, kept her 
informed of occurrences at Oaklands, and were 
as oases in a desert of study and discipline. 

From Nellie ^s first letter she had learned of 
Will’s abrupt decision to go abroad for a pro- 
tracted season, to place himself under treat- 
ment; — and,” continued the writer, ‘‘in con- 
sequence of their departure, the house wherein 
mirth and gaiety have so lately reigned is 
now as silent as the Cave of Trophonius. The 
family spirits may be described as hlue, bluer, 
bluest. Mama’s and mine are blue, Marie’s are 


STELLA HOPE 


145 


ultra-marine, and EthePs are indigo. The cause 
in the latter case is that E. is anticipating disap- 
pointment in her proposed visit to New Orleans, 
since the pnrse of a certain Fortunatns is 
closed. ’ ’ 

Then in her own hnmorons style, in order to 
cheer the heart of the lonely girl, she detailed 
all the neighborhood news, and finally assured 
her that she was taking the very best care of 
‘^Ceyx and Alcyone,^’ at which intelligence 
Stella’s eyes brimmed with grateful tears. 

Affairs at Oaklands remained pretty much as 
Nellie had described them, through the autumn 
and winter. Mrs. Haughton, as she phrased 
it, raking and scraping” every penny she 
could collect to equip Ethel for the visit to New 
Orleans ; and the latter, never so happy as when 
leaving home, had gone away early in December, 
while Marie, in much disgust at being compelled 
to pass the whole winter at Oaklands, moped 
and sulked from day to day. 

Nellie, with a vague blank in her own usually 
contented bosom, made pickles and preserves, 
looked after the poultry, took solitary walks to 
banish painful thoughts, and cheered her 
mother’s heart by infusing into it some of her 
own home-made sunshine. 

Then came letters from Ethel, letters glow- 
ing with happiness, which served to accentuate 
Marie’s discontent;, descriptions of balls, box- 
parties, and other entertainments ad infinitum. 
Never had a guest been so royally feted. It was 


9 


146 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘all more like an enchanted dream than real- 
ity.” Afterward came Mardi-Gras, — all too 
soon, — with the Kex, and Comns balls, and the 
request that she be permitted to remain to the 
mi-car erne ball; she had “a special object” 
which she would explain on her return and then 
she would be willing to leave “dear old New 
Orleans. ’ ' 

At last early in April she came, never 
wearying of reciting the pleasures of her 
visit. 

“And, — after all, — ^what?” asked her mother 
significantly. 

Then swelling with pride, but blushingly, 
Ethel answered, 

“There was one whom I never mentioned in 
my letters, because I was not sure of his in- 
tentions until the evening before I left.” 

‘ ‘ And what of him ? ’ ’ 

“A brilliant parti, mama. He is an Anglo- 
Mexican of noble Castilian descent on the 
paternal side; of the most polished manners, 
very handsome person, distingue, an eligible, 
even according to your standard, mama.” 

“And now comes the supreme question, hoiv 
muchf^^ inquired Nellie, smilingly, as she 
divined what was in the family mind. 

“The only son, and heir to a gold-mine,” 
answered Ethel proudly. 

yMirahile! only — son — and — ^heir — to a gold- 
mine. He must have an ore-hard heart, and be 
an inorganic sort of a fellow,” laughed Nellie, 
teasingly. Ethel flushed hotly. 


STELLA HOPE 


147 


said nothing of his disposition or his 
temperament. I do not understand your in- 
sinuations,’’ said she loftily. 

Nellie good-naturedly explained. 

‘‘Go on, my dear; don’t let Nellie’s nonsense 
annoy you,” said her mother. 

“I have nothing more to say, mama, except 
that he wishes your permission to meet me as 
his fiancee, next summer, at The White. ’ ’ 

“How jealous Marie and myself must feel!” 
exclaimed Nellie in mock chagrin. “We shall 
have to dance sans souliers at your wedding.” 

‘ ‘ Speak for yourself, please, ’ ’ snapped Marie. 

“How long will he let you wait, Ethel!” 

And the youngest daughter of the house, with 
the air of a queen who has provinces to bestow, 
replied with becoming hauteur, 

“That is for me to appoint. I suppose no 
one will dispute my prerogative in such a mat- 
ter.” 

“Well, ma chere, all I have to say is, gold- 
fish require a deal of angling for, and even 
when caught are sometimes very slippery.. Be- 
lays are dangerous,’^ remarked Marie. 

“At any rate, I shall enjoy my liberty one 
more season at The White, if dear mama can 
give it to me, ’ ’ looking anxiously at her parent. 

“Impossible, child; utterly impossible, with 
an expensive trousseau in prospect. He must 
see you at your home. ’ ’ 

“ Oh ! mama, I could so easily reimburse you 
afterward. ’ ’ 

“Certainly, as the daughter-in law of a gold- 
mine, it would appear so, ’ ’ put in Nellie. 


148 


STELLA HOPE 


Mrs. Haughton pooh-poohed the idea of an- 
other season at The White, declaring that her 
daughters must suppose her the possessor of a 
gold-mine. EthePs countenance fell visibly, 
and Marie remarked prudently, 

‘‘I think, Ethel, it will be a rather dangerous 
pleasure, however gratifying to your amour- 
propre, to parade such a prize, even as your 
fiance, at such a place. There are too many 
fair and fond doves that would not scruple to 
snap up a gold-bug if it came within their 
reach. ’ ’ 

But the young beauty, confident in her 
charms, with a sniff, and a toss of her head, 
replied, 

^ ‘ Let them attempt it ! I am not afraid. ’ ’ 

Some weeks later, Ethel opened the question 
again. 

^‘Mama, I have just received a letter from 
Eita. Suppose now you might be able to rent 
your home, with the privilege of the stables, 
garden, poultry-yard, and servants’ attention, 
for the months of July, August, and Septem- 
ber ; would you be willing to do so, and go visit- 
ing for the summer?” 

Mrs. Haughton looked up in surprise, and 
then replied prudently — that it would depend 
largely upon the amount of rent offered, and 
asked if she knew of any one wishing to rent 
Oaklands. 

‘‘Nothing positive as yet, mama; but you 
know Mrs. Eoulard is an invalid, and does not 
like a fashionable watering-place for herself 


STELLA HOPE 


149 


and the younger children. Rita has been ex- 
patiating so eloquently on our Eden of a coun- 
try-place, that her mother is just crazy to come 
here with the two children for the hot months. 
But she feels a great delicacy in making an 
otfer for the place, as she knows nothing of 
your financial embarrassments, and thinks us 
wealthy. She once or twice remarked to me 
that she would be delighted to rent some rather 
quiet country-place in Virginia, near us, where 
the children could have all the benefits of a 
healthful climate, exercise, freedom, pure milk, 
good water and all that. And whenever Rita 
would go into raptures over Oaklands, Mr. 
Roulard would laughingly declare he would 
either have to buy, or rent it, to content her.^’ 

^^Well, child, that is a question involving 
some consideration. An apparently liberal 
rent might be very far from reimbursing me 
for giving up my home and turning my family 
out of doors for three months. Then, the crops 
might be neglected and many things might be 
injured during my absence. How about the 
boy?’’ 

‘^Oh! he is a veritable book-worm; as quiet 
as a girl ; never cares to budge from his chair, 
if he can get a book to read. The physicians 
declare he will never be strong until he can be 
induced to live more in the open air and take 
more vigorous exercise. Mrs. Roulard thinks 
riding horseback, boating, swimming, and the 
like will be the making of him. Hence the great 
desire for Oaklands. ’ ’ 


150 


STELLA HOPE 


Ethel paused for her mother to reply, but 
that prudent calculator was silent. She pon- 
dered awhile before she finally said, 

‘ ‘ Perhaps, my dear, it is not such a bad idea ; 
but I do not see how I could ask such a rent 
as would be sufficient to maintain all my family 
so expensively for the summer ; you and Marie 
at The White, and Nellie and myself some- 
where, I suppose. What says Marie! for I 
know that you and she have planned it all to 
suit yourselves. ’ ’ 

Ethel blushed guiltily, but sprang up to call 
Marie ; and to judge from the promptitude with 
which the latter appeared she could not have 
been either unprepared nor far off when the 
case had been laid before her mother. 

“Mama,’’ she said, “Mr. Poulard would 
never think of offering you less than would be 
required to board his family and several serv- 
ants at an expensive summer resort. You could 
scarcely get more if you were to rent the place 
for a whole year.” 

“A little more, perhaps; but go on.” 

“Well, then, to take up the more important 
personages first — for several years you have 
been wishing to get away from home for a 
much-needed rest and change. This arrange- 
ment will let you accept Aunt Henderson’s 
long-standing invitation. We have sounded 
Nellie on the subject, and she prefers to go with 
you. It is superfluous to say that Ethel and 
myself prefer the Mecca of all Virginia girls. 
Ethel ardently desires one more season there 


STELLA HOPE 


151 


before entering tbe estate of matrimony, and I 
shall go with the avowed intention of seeking 
to end my single-blessedness, ’ ’ argued Marie. 

^‘And you think that with the opportunities 
of one more season you can promise me a son- 
in-law P’ 

‘‘My word upon it; or, failing that, to re- 
nounce the pomps and vanities of fashionable 
life.’^ 

“With no more murmurings of discontent!’’ 

“No; my hand and seal thereto,” laughing. 

‘ ‘ Good ! that is certainly an end to be desired. 
What next! Oh! two trousseaux later on; 
though I suppose if you secure the husband you 
will be indifferent to the meagerness of the 
bridal outfit.” 

“Well, not entirely. I should desire for my 
mother’s eldest daughter, a suitable equipment 
for married life.” 

“We will now summon Nellie to the family 
councils,” said Mrs. Haughton. Accordingly 
she came, and the proposition with all the pros 
and cons was stated. 

“I scarcely see that the arrangements are 
perfect,” she said emphatically, seeing how 
little would be left for herself and mother. 

Marie and Ethel stared at her aghast, Marie 
saying, 

“Surely, Nellie, you are not going back on 
your agreement ! ’ ’ 

“Not if I can avoid it,” she answered good- 
humoredly; “but you must remember that 
mama and myself, though possibly angels in 


152 


STELLA HOPE 


embryo, have not yet received our wings; and 
until we are plumed for upward flight we shall 
need some means like other earthly mortals. I 
have heard of angeVs food, and angels are gen- 
erally represented with some kind of attire. 
Under the present arrangement we would be 
compelled to flap our pinions rather laboriously 
in such hot weather to reach Chicago. Yet, if 
we could only receive them in time, they might 
also serve for raiment, though that would de- 
pend on size, cut, and texture. Perhaps we 
might order then en tablier, en pannier, or both 
combined,’’ rattled on Nellie, without pause for 
her sisters to slip in a word. 

^‘Nellie, you are the most nonsensical and un- 
sympathetic of creatures. Let us leave her out, 
mama. ’ ’ 

“By no means; for her remarks contain 
grains of sound sense, my dears. ’ ’ 

After much discussion it was arranged that 
if Mr. Poulard would pay a sufficient sum to 
warrant it, Marie and Ethel were to have their 
hearts’ desire, while Mrs. Haughton and Nellie 
were to visit the Henderson relatives, near Chi- 
cago. 

“Oh!” cried Nellie suddenly, “we have left 
out Stella, altogether, in our calculations.” 

“True, there is a check,” observed Mrs. 
Haughton, while Marie and Ethel looked blank. 

“Oh, bother!” exclaimed the latter vehe- 
niently, “why is mama always to be hampered 
with such an uninteresting protegee? 


STELLA HOPE 


153 


^^Why not leave her at the convent till the 
next session r’ asked Marie. 

^‘And pay as much for her board as for 
yours asked her mother, petulantly. 

‘Ht need not come out of your pocket, mama. 
Her Uncle Stockton wishes her to have every 
advantage; surely, that would be one,” urged 
Marie. 

‘‘To yourself, certainly,” retorted Nellie. 

“You are aware that though he made a very 
liberal allowance for expenses, it is now all 
gone,” answered Mrs. Haughton. 

“Perhaps you and Ethel think it will he bet- 
ter to make a nun of her, Marie,” exclaimed 
Nellie indignantly. 

‘ ‘ She might as well be, ’ ^ answered Ethel, with 
a significant shrug of her shoulders. 

“Is marrying a gold-mine the supreme am- 
bition of every woman?” asked Nellie scorn- 
fully. 

“If so, then I am sorry for some I know,” re- 
torted the younger sister pertly. 

“Silence!” commanded Mrs. Haughton 
sternly. “I will arrange this matter to-day, 
myself.” And being a shrewd business-woman, 
she lost no time in unnecessary delay. That 
her communications were precisely to the point 
was evidenced by the fact that within ten days 
the whole thing was definitely and satisfactorily 
settled. 


CHAPTER XVI 


Mrs. Haughton waited only long enough to 
extend a cordial welcome to the Roulard fam- 
ily; to surrender the keys into their keeping; 
to make them acquainted with the mansion and 
its environs ; and to witness the intense delight 
of the children, coupled with the graver pleas- 
ure of the parents, before she and Nellie turned 
their faces Chicago-ward, as Marie and Ethel 
had already turned theirs toward The White 
Sulphur. Stella remained at the convent. 

The mother and daughter were received with 
affection and gracious hospitality by the Hen- 
derson family, which consisted of the mother, 
two daughters, and a son. Nellie was soon as 
intimate with the girls as with her own sisters ; 
more so, in point of fact, because they were 
more similar in character and, therefore, more 
congenial. The son, engaged in business in the 
city, was a year or two older than herself. The 
residence was a few miles out of the city, de- 
lightfully situated, and each twilight, after Al- 
fred’s return from the stifling heat of town, the 
four would wander along the Lake shore, the 
fresh breezes and the plashing of the waves a 
charming accompaniment to the animated con- 
versation. 

^ Sometimes, however, Nellie would drop pen- 
sively behind ; and gazing far over the waters, 
her thoughts would traverse a broader main. 


STELLA HOPE 


155 


seeking, in fancy, a perhaps melancholy man 
vainly searching for health amid the Old-World 
hannts of invalidism and pleasure. 

Why was it, she sadly mnsed, that no tidings 
had come of the wanderers? She angured ill 
from that unbroken silence; for if Will had 
found returning health would he not have in- 
formed his relatives of the cheering fact? Had 
he not, very often when they had been so much 
together, expressed his appreciation of their 
kindness ? 

Several times Alfred had surprised her in 
these wistful speculations, and would rally her 
thereon. Then she would rouse herself, banish 
serious thought, and with humorous or ridicu- 
lous explanation join so merrily in the chatter 
as to allay his half- jealous suspicions. 

Did she envy her sisters their gayer pleas- 
ures ? By no means. Each day she felicitated 
herself more and more upon her choice; even 
when their rather infrequent letters came, 
gushing with raptures over their social 
triumphs. 

Ethel had mentioned her fiancees arrival, and 
glowed with pride at the mutual admiration ex- 
isting between Marie and himself. She dilated 
upon the flutter his coming had created among 
maneuvering mamas and marriageable daugh- 
ters; especially, when the whispered rumors 
of his great expectations were circulated among 
them. Marie wrote also of Senor Morals dis- 
tinguished manners and handsome person; as- 
serting that Ethel was the envy of half the 


156 


STELLA HOPE 


young women at the Springs. The Senor had 
taken herself into his confidence, and had en- 
deavored to engage her sisterly offices in pro- 
curing EthePs consent to an early marriage; 
that Ethel was obdurate, and Senor Mora im- 
patiently bore the declaration that she would 
not be married in less than a year. 

Mrs. Haughton and Nellie consulted together, 
and came to the determination that Ethel was 
to be allowed to set her own time for her mar- 
riage, in spite of Marie’s insistence that the 
period of engagement he shortened. 

Accordingly, they both wrote to Ethel, advis- 
ing her to consult only her own inclinations in 
such a momentous matter; and Nellie added, 

‘‘We are not so desirous of giving you up, 
little Sis, as to advise a precipitate marriage. 
If Senor Mora, who you say is thirty-four, has 
delayed matrimony so long, and then is not wil- 
ling to wait just one year for so beautiful a 
bride, I should break the engagement, sine 
Mora, and send him about his business,” which 
pun Ethel repeated in answer to the urgency of 
that gentleman, saying, “Dear old Nellie! she 
always veils sound sense under some ridiculous 
form. ’ ’ 

Senor Mora frowned and glared at every new 
admirer of his betrothed, and turned moodily 
away, muttering imprecations under his magni- 
ficent black moustache. 

Marie, too, was having a good time. An ab- 
sence of one summer had not entirely oblit- 
erated her from the remembrance of former 


STELLA HOPE 


157 


friends; for, selfish and unresponsive as she 
was at home, she could, as we have said, be 
charming when she thought it worth while. 

She had not yet, however, announced her own 
engagement; but what did that matter? She 
had still several weeks in which to exercise her 
powers of fascination. She argued that the 
world and all things therein were created in 
six days, and in triple that space surely she 
might make a matrimonial engagement. 

Then, ten days later, came a letter stating 
that in one more week they were to leave for the 
visit to their cousin in West Virginia. Senor 
Mora would accompany them a part of the way, 
en route for Mexico, to look after his property. 

It was more than a week before the next let- 
ter arrived. Nellie opened it, to read aloud, at 
her mother ^s request, and to their amazement 
it ran as follows : 

^Dearest Mama and Nellie: 

^Prepare yourselves for a great shock, 
which I scarcely yet know how to accept myself, 
or to break to you. But as you will wish to 
know all the details, I will write them as con- 
cisely as I can, although I am hardly able to 
write coherently. 

‘On the appointed day we left The White 
for our visit to Cousin Laura Wynne’s, Senor 
Mora to accompany us a portion of the way. 
For several days he had ceased his importuni- 
ties for an early marriage, seeming more re- 
signed to the delay. 

“ ‘When the time came for Marie and myself 


15S 


STELLA HOPE 


to get off, he gathered up my traps and con- 
ducted me to the platform. Cousin Harry 
Wynne was waiting for us, and, as soon as I 
appeared, he rushed up and began talking so 
fast that I scarcely had time to say a word of 
farewell to Mr. Mora before the train started 
again. 

H turned to say something to Marie, but 
she was nowhere to be seen. Cousin Harry and 
I then went into the waiting-room thinking she 
had only preceded us but she was not there. Of 
course we then thought she had failed through 
absence of mind — though not like her — to get 
off, but would stop at the next station and re- 
turn on the up-trip. We telegraphed to her, 
and waited ; but the answer came from the agent 
that no lady of that name had gotten off the 
train there. 

^We then went on to Cousin Laura’s, who 
met me with open arms, but was troubled about 
Marie. In the afternoon Harry went back to 
the station, and returned, bringing not Marie, 
but the enclosed. Eead it and judge of my feel- 
ings, if it is possible for any one except the 
victim of such duplicity — ’ ” 

At this point Nellie dropped Ethel’s letter 
and opened the one enclosed. 

‘^Eead,” said Mrs. Haughton hoarsely; and, 
all in a tremble, Nellie continued : 

‘My dearest sister, 

“ ‘Can you ever forgive me for the wrong 
I have done you? Believe me, I did not enter 
into it designedly; but, rather, the force of cir- 


STELLA HOPE 


159 


cumstances has brought it about. If I thought 
you entertained any real atfection for Mr. Mora 
I would have cut otf my right hand rather than 
do this thing. 

‘At first I thought only to console him. for 
your coldness, for which he appeared very 
grateful. Then he began to show more and 
more pleasure in my society, and delicately to 
hint that it was unfortunate for him that he had 
not met me first; that he was afraid he had 
made a mistake in urging one so young and 
giddy to become his wife. 

“ ‘I know I should not have listened, but I 
had promised dear mama a son-in-law. We 
will be married before this reaches you. Please 
break it gently to mama and Nellie. I hope and 
pray it may be no great blow to you, but rather 
a relief, for you do not love him, and I do. 

“ ‘I will write to dear mama as soon as I 
reach his father’s hacienda in Mexico. In the 
meanwhile, I am, with the fondest love for you, 
mama, and Nellie, your devoted, if erring sister, 

“ ‘Marie.’ ” 

For a few moments no word seemed suf- 
ficiently expressive to break the silence. Then 
with a deep groan Mrs. Haughton dropped her 
head in her hands. “ Oh ! the shame and heart- 
lessness of it ! To rob her young sister of her 
promised husband, and then lay the blame upon 
her mother ! As if I had exacted any inviolable 
promise of a son-in-law. And my poor wronged 
child, far away from us, among strangers, deso- 


160 


STELLA HOPE 


late in her great sorrow, ’ ’ and deep sobs shook 
the maternal bosom. 

Nellie was deeply affected at the mortification 
which she knew Ethel must be suffering, and at 
the reproaches which a censorious public would 
heap upon Marie’s dishonorable and unsisterly 
conduct; she also felt deeply for her mother’s 
distress, but, when the latter spoke of her 
youngest daughter as desolate in her great 
sorrow,” she could scarcely repress a smile as 
she said’, 

^‘Mama, I don’t think you need distress your- 
self greatly at the thought of Ethel’s sorrow, 
for I am quite sure her heart was never very 
much interested in the matter. It is Marie’s 
conduct that should most affect us. Let us read 
the remainder of Ethel’s letter, which you have 
forgotten,” and she resumed, 

‘After I had read Marie’s letter I was so 
overcome with shame and mortification that I 
came very near fainting. Cousin Laura saw 
my agitation and ran to my assistance. I 
would have preferred to keep the matter secret, 
but it was impossible. I could only point to 
the letter, which she read with great indigna- 
tion. 

“ ‘Then she took me tenderly to her bosom, 
and tried to comfort me. She told me I ought 
not to sorrow over the loss of such a man — 
rather to rejoice that I was delivered from such 
a perfidious wretch. She asked me if I had 
really loved him as a woman ought to love the 
man she intended to marry ; and, dearest mama, 


STELLA HOPE 


161 


upon looking into the depths of my heart, I 
failed to find Mr. Morals image engraven 
there.’ ” 

^ ‘ Thank God ! ’ ’ murmured Mrs. Haughton. 
Mt was only a girlish infatuation and an 
ambition to make a brilliant marriage. Cousin 
Laura asked me if I had been reputed wealthy 
in New Orleans, and I was compelled to confess 
with shame that such was the impression and 
that I had made no effort to correct it. Then 
she said the man was no doubt a furtune-hunter, 
and that Marie was the one to be pitied. Now, 
mother, I am persuaded from the manner in 
which he urged haste, that he feared lest the 
rich prize might slip from his grasp, and mar- 
ried Marie to secure it. ’ ” 

The remainder of Ethel ’s letter dealt in stric- 
tures on Marie ’s unsisterly conduct and in vehe- 
ment declarations that she would never forgive 
her. She bewailed the scandal that must en- 
sue, and finally concluded with the wish to join 
her mother and ‘‘dear Nellie, who never would 
have treated me so. ’ ’ 

“There, mama, I told you Ethel’s affections 
have sustained no great injury. I think with 
Cousin Laura Wynne, that poor Marie is the 
one to be commiserated. So try to bear it 
bravely and let no one here know of the occur- 
rence unless they see it in the newspapers. I 
think, like Ethel, we should keep the matter 
quiet. ’ ’ 

10 


162 


STELLA HOPE 


And in due time Ethel came, looking paler 
and more serious than her wont ; and none but 
her mother and sister was the wiser till long 
afterward. 

When several weeks had passed and no tid- 
ings came from the fugitive pair, — ^no marriage 
certificate, — Mrs. Haughton began to be tor- 
tured by a most horrible anxiety. What if the 
Senor, descended from the treacherous Span- 
iard, had deceived her too-confiding daughter, 
and there had been no marriage after all, or 
only a mock ceremony? 

In silent agony she writhed under this new 
fear, not venturing to communicate it to the 
two sisters, but striving to conceal from them 
the burden of sorrow which pressed so heavily 
upon her heart. 

In this season of solitary struggle and stern 
repression she realized for the first time her 
failure to instil into the minds of her daughters 
the higher principles and aims of a noble 
womanhood, and that she had only held up to 
their view the empty baubles of a merely world- 
ly ambition. 

Now, when disgrace stared her in the face, 
she became so much more softened that Nellie 
and Ethel often found themselves wondering 
over her unwonted gentleness. 

At last, after painful waiting, came a letter, 
postmarked San Francisco ; and as Mrs. 
Haughton tore it open with hands that were 
pitiably trembling, the long-hoped-for certifi- 
cate fell into her lap. A feeling of deeper thank- 


STELLA HOPE 


163 


fulness than she had ever experienced caused 
her to utter a fervent thanksgiving, and she fell 
to weeping almost hysterically. Her daughters 
were shocked at her emotion ; but when, broken- 
ly, she was able to tell her recent fears, they 
were still more so; and they united with her 
in the most devout expressions of gratitude. 

The purport of Mrs. Mora’s letter may be 
briefly given. It was to the effect that she had 
been duly married at Bristol, Tennessee; and, 
but for the fact of having supplanted her sister, 
and married without her mother ’s blessing, she 
would be perfectly happy. That her husband 
was everything a husband should be ; that they 
were then at the finest hotel in San Francisco, 
but later he would take her to his father’s home 
near the City of Mexico ; but, for some months 
to come, he had important interests to look 
after in California and Arizona. 

Enclosed was a short letter from Senor Mora, 
saying that it should be the aim of his life to 
atone for his one fault, by striving, in every 
way under the sun, to make his wife happy, 
and to surround her with the luxuries to which 
she had been accustomed. He begged the fam- 
ily to condone the offense which had been of the 
head and not of the heart. That from the first 
moment he had seen Marie he had known that 
Fate had designed them for each other, and 
that they had taken the easiest way out of a 
very delicate position; that he had promised 
his wife, if agreeable to her family, to take her 
back on a visit to her native State the following 


164 


STELLA HOPE 


summer, at which time he would be delighted 
to make the acquaintance of the mother and 
other daughter, with both of whom he could 
not fail to be charmed if they at all resembled 
the two representatives with whom he had the 
honor to be acquainted. 

‘‘Well,^’ exclaimed Mrs. Haughton, when 
both letters had been read, must confess that 
I am infinitely relieved ; for matters might have 
been worse. His style is exceedingly gentle- 
manly, and I suppose of course that it was his 
great love for Marie which led him to do a 
thing that is at least not without parallel. We 
will write them to-day. Will you not add a few 
lines of forgiveness, Ethel, my dear?” 

‘‘Most assuredly not, mama; for though I 
am now rejoiced that Marie married him in- 
stead of myself, I am not quite so ready to 
‘condone the offense,’ as he appears to expect. 
I shall never regard it in any other light than 
as base and dishonorable,” and she turned 
away with a fiush of deep resentment. 


CHAPTER XVII 


The summer and first month of autumn have 
passed, and once more Mrs. Haughton and her 
two remaining daughters are standing on the 
portico of their home, while Mrs. Roulard and 
children are ready for migration to Magnolia- 
Land. She is saying, 

^^Bear Mrs. Haughton, how can I ever thank 
you sufficiently for giving over to me for such 
a length of time your perfectly delightful 
home? When I look upon my dear boy and 
see the fiush of health upon his cheek, and his 
listlessness transformed into animation, my 
whole heart is filled with gratitude. I myself 
feel like a different creature, and Bettine has 
become a real eountry-girl. Words cannot ex- 
press how much I owe you. ’ ’ 

And the happy mother, sincere in her expres- 
sions of gratitude, takes an affectionate leave of 
the family and is borne away in the rumffiling 
old carriage to the station, often with a 
mother’s fond pride looking at the healthful 
figure of Louis, riding horse-back beside them. 

Mr. Roulard and Rita are to join them at L :- 

and return with them southward, while the 
Haughtons settle down for an indefinite period 
of domestication. 

And how fares it with Stella Hope, who for 
a whole year has been plodding along at her 
studies ? 


166 


STELLA HOPE 


Eor her — ^with only the one aim of progress — 
the time has passed so uneventfully that but for 
the whistling of the autumn breezes and the fall- 
ing of the sere and yellow leaves she could not 
be convinced that a year had passed and that 
she is by so much the nearer to the goal of her 
ambition. One day has been so nearly the 
counterpart of another that she can only meas- 
ure time by the progress she has made in her 
studies. 

The kind Sisters, learning that she desires 
to be self-supporting, have given her every aid 
in their power ; and thus in this uninterrupted 
year of close and intelligent application she has 
accomplished the work of two ordinary ses- 
sions. Now, at the beginning of the second 
year, she takes her stand, pari passu, with the 
juniors. 

Three more months glide by, and at the ex- 
piration of a year and a quarter since she left 
Oaklands she is again there for the Christmas 
holidays. 

The invitations of the family have been suf- 
ficiently cordial; and, all former injustice and 
coldness forgotten, her heart swells with emo- 
tion as she drives up the familiar avenue and 
catches the first glimpse of the mansion that, 
whether hospitable or not, had sheltered her or- 
phaned head. 

As she approaches she glances through a gap 
in the avenue and views on the edge of the for- 
est her sturdy old giant still bending protect- 
ingly over the seat she had nearly three years 


STELLA HOPE 


167 


before ingeniously improvised; and she laughs 
softly to herself as with clearer, more mature 
vision she looks back upon that period, still re- 
cent in actual measurement of time, but remote 
in comparison with the change in herself. 

Very soon, all fluttering with joy, she is in 
the old hall receiving salutations and words of 
welcome. She has heard of the marriage of 
Marie and is prepared to find one face missing 
from the family group. There is no change 
perceptible in the other members of the family, 
except a gratifying increase of cordiality, es- 
pecially on the part of Ethel. 

The change in herself appears marvelous. 

‘^Why, how pretty you have grown, child, 
was Mrs. Haughton’s salutation, and being a 
worshiper of beauty, she forthwith begins to 
feel a greater interest in her niece than she had 
ever felt before. It did not require long for 
each member of the family to note how con- 
spicuously she had gained in self-poise, in dig- 
nity of deportment, and in conversational 
powers; while from constant association with 
cultured instructors and ambitious students, all 
her former crudities and little eccentricities had 
. disappeared and her manners had become 
polished and easy. 

She was catechised and examined to the ex- 
tent of the abilities of her interlocutors, and 
her progress found eminently satisfactory; so 
much so that Mrs. Haughton felt constrained to 
write to the Mother Superior and express her 
gratification at the unexpected advancement of 


168 


STELLA HOPE 


her niece. Especially was Nellie delighted with 
Stella’s progress in music, since she had given 
her her start. 

Even Ethel condescended to compliment, and 
remarked to her mother, later, believe some- 
thing may be made of her, after all. ’ ’ 

Every familiar thing on the plantation came 
in for a share of the young girl’s notice and 
petting. Ceyx and Alcyone were cuddled back 
to a seeming recollection of her, while the dogs, 
cats, and horses were fondled. 

She visited her old haunt under the great oak, 
now standing as desolate amid the winter snows 
as she herself had stood that sad morning when 
she had been torn from the family circle and 
exiled among strangers; when she had been 
cut oft from even one little farewell word with 
him who held her heart in his keeping — one who 
had since been renounced, by his own defection, 
and deposed from the pedestal on which she 
had placed him. She had banished the 
thought of him by persistent and intense appli- 
cation to study, and had determinedly erected 
a mound of forgetfulness above that young love 
that had been no fickle, sportive Cupid, but an 
infant Titan, that sometimes even yet turned 
and writhed under the superimposed masses 
of the Ossa and Pelion of determination and 
suppression. 

After remaining two weeks at Oaklands she 
returned to the Convent, resuming her studies 
more assiduously than ever. 

Winter and spring pass slowly to the family 


STELLA HOPE 


169 


at Oaklands; but May brings some revival of 
interest in the shape of a letter from Marie an- 
nouncing that ‘‘dear Jose’’ and herself are de- 
sirous of visiting her family, and if convenient 
to them will come on about the first of June; 
that her husband is so impatient to become ac- 
quainted with her mother and Nellie, and she 
herself is pining for a sight of the old home- 
stead ; that Mr. Mora has not yet been able to 
take her to his father’s home on account of 
business engagements, but that for some months 
they have been at a ranch in New Mexico. She 
is not well, but hopes the climate of Virginia 
will benefit her. 

The three women look a trifle serious over 
the contents of this letter, especially the intelli- 
gence that Mr. Mora has never taken her to his 
feather’s family in his palatial home near the 
City of Mexico. Mrs. Haughton shakes her 
head doubtfully, and deep in Nellie’s mind a 
silent suspicion finds lodgment. 

In due course of time the pair arrived, but do 
what they might to render the home-coming 
pleasant and unconstrained the situation was 
awkward and embarrassing. 

Mrs. Haughton and Nellie were exceptionally 
cordial to Marie, who looked worn and ill. The 
latter presented her husband as “dear Jose,” 
but though that gentleman went through the 
presentation with an assumption of ease, he 
was far from feeling it. 

Ethel had not advanced with the empresse- 
ment of her mother and sister, but stood 


170 


STELLA HOPE 


slightly aloof, calm and cold. As Marie turned 
toward her and saw the expression of her 
whole attitude, she stopped short, blushing 
crimson, and cast a deprecating glance upon 
the sister whom she had wronged, waiting for 
her to take the initiative in deciding their fu- 
ture relations. 

Ethel paused uncertainly, wavering between 
two powerful, conflicting emotions ; then yield- 
ing to the more generous impulse, she stepped 
forward and clasped her sister in her arms. 
Marie was not prepared for such magnanimity, 
and broke down sobbing upon EthePs shoulder. 

Encouraged by the warmth of the greeting 
bestowed upon his wife the Sehor now ad- 
vanced; and, holding out his hand, with a 
sickly attempt at pleasantry, asked, 

‘‘Am I not included in the general amnesty P’ 
The wronged girl drew herself up, and an- 
swered contemptuously, 

“Most assuredly, sir, not only are you fully 
pardoned, but I consider myself your life-long 
debtor. ’ ’ 

After his first attempt to carry off the whole 
affair with bravado, in which he recognized 
that he had signally failed, Marie’s husband 
was ill at ease ; and in his whole manner there 
was something so furtive and indefinably un- 
pleasant that neither Mrs. Haughton nor Nellie 
was favorably impressed ; the latter frequently 
murmuring, “Poor Marie!” 

She remarked to Ethel, later. 


STELLA HOPE 


171 


‘‘He always has the appearance of taking 
an inventory of all mama’s possessions.” 

“Do yon think Marie is happy?” asked 
Ethel. 

“No, I am sorry to say I do not. She makes 
a great effort to appear so, hut she has faded 
so decidedly that I am sure she has had many 
trying experiences. I believe him to be nothing 
but an unprincipled adventurer. ’ ’ 

A few days later, the Senor requested Mrs. 
Haughton to favor him with a private inter- 
view. Much wondering, she accompanied him 
to the parlor, and being seated, he without 
preamble plunged at once in medias res. 

“Madam,” he said, “I have requested this 
interview because I contemplate leaving to- 
morrow, and I would like, before going, to have 
all business matters settled. I have a most 
excellent opportunity to invest my wife’s por- 
tion of her father’s estate, and desire to know 
whether it now stands in her own name, or if 
there has yet been a division. ’ ’ 

He paused for her reply, but Mrs. Haughton, 
astounded at his impudent demand, could only 
stare at him in amazement. At length she said, 
“I fear I have not understood you. To 
what estate do you refer?” 

“To her late father’s estate. Madam, of 
course. I did not know that there were others, ’ ’ 
he replied, himself surprised. 

Mrs. Haughton, by an effort, pulled herself 
together. Then she answered very slowly, 
“Her late father’s estate was nil, sir. The 


172 


STELLA HOPE 


property, wMch in ante-helium days was con- 
siderable, was all mine; and what is left of it 
will still remain mine.’^ 

‘‘Am I then to infer. Madam, that my wife 
has no property in her own exclusive right T’ 
he asked in evident alarm. 

“Nothing whatever at present, and very little 
in prospect. My estate — the sad remnant of 
it — is heavily mortgaged, and my sources of 
revenue are limited.’’ 

His face darkened with disappointment and 
anger. 

“Then I am to understand that the great 
Haughton wealth consists in so many castles 
in Spain?” he asked satirically. 

Mrs. Haughton ’s indignation could be re- 
strained no longer. She sharply retorted, 

“Yes, sir; if Ethel enjoyed in New Orleans 
the reputation of wealth, it certainly consisted 
in castles in Spain; and I have not now the 
shadow of a doubt that your gold mines in 
Mexico lie very contiguous to your wife’s 
chateaux in Spain. May I inquire, Senor Mora, 
in what your worldly possessions consist?” 

‘ ‘ Then we have all labored under a most lam- 
entable mistake. Madam. I have no property, 
either in Mexico, or elsewhere. I am a Mexi- 
can only in name. I passed the earlier portion 
of my life in New Mexico upon the ranch of an 
Englishman. I have quite a wealthy relative 
of my name near the City of Mexico who has a 
son and heir of his own. The reputed wealth is 
his, not mine.” 


STELLA HOPE 


173 


Mrs. Haughton sat silent a few seconds, too 
aghast at this revelation to be capable of im- 
mediate speech. Then she asked, 

‘‘What then do you propose to do with my 
daughter?” 

Mr. Mora attempted a facetious reply. 

“I was expecting your assistance, my dear 
Madam, in overriding my present financial diffi- 
culties. It remains for you to say what is to 
be done with her. ^ ^ 

‘ ‘ Good Heavens ! does Marie suspect the true 
state of your affairs?” 

“I am inclined to believe she does, seeing 
we have been compelled to make shift to ar- 
rive at the present time; and her amiable re- 
proaches have not been the most efficient lubri- 
cant in making the wheels of fortune turn 
smoothly. In short. Madam, she has made it so 
disagreeable for me in bewailing the privations 
to which she declares she has been subjected 
that we both deem it expedient to leave her for 
a while in the bosom of her family — at any rate 
till I can find more lucrative employment, and 
one more congenial to my lady.” 

“In other words, sir, you propose to desert 
her indefinitely, I presume. ’ ’ 

“Say rather, she proposes to desert me for 
a period.” 

“To cut the matter short, it all amounts to 
one and the same thing ; you are unable to sup- 
port your wife, and have brought her back to 
her mother,” said Mrs. Haughton. 

“Let us say, rather, that I have brought her 


174 


STELLA HOPE 


to visit her relatives for a season; it sounds 
much better that way, ’ ’ he answered coolly. 

Accusations and recriminations the outraged 
lady regarded as worse than useless. Without 
another word she cut short the conference, leav- 
ing her hopeful son-in-law, and going to com- 
municate to Nellie the deplorable future of her 
eldest daughter. 

Practically a deserted wife, penniless, and 
with the not distant prospect of maternity, her 
life blasted by an unhallowed act of perfidy, it 
looked far from cheering for Marie. Truly, 
retribution had overtaken her swiftly; and the 
ambitious, calculating mother wept bitterly 
over the marred fortunes of her eldest-born. 

Nellie strove bravely to comfort her by pic- 
turing a brighter side; but Mrs. Haughton de- 
clared there was no brighter side, and con- 
tinued her lamentations. 

Marie’s husband left the next day; and the 
whole family remained during the summer 
quietly at home to cheer her in her forlorn con- 
dition, which she felt very keenly. 

Mr. Mora wrote occasionally, but made no 
reference to improved finances, nor hinted at 
reunion; and when at last, in September, he 
was made acquainted with the birth of a daugh- 
ter, he did not congratulate the mother whose 
best and deepest feelings were aroused by the 
advent of her child, and who now turned to the 
tiny face to seek therein consolation for the fa- 
ther’s desertion. 


CHAPTER XVII 


When, in the beginning of summer, the 
choice was left to Stella whether she would pass 
the summer at Oaklands or remain at the con- 
vent, she decided on the latter ; not through in- 
ditference, as she took pains to explain, but 
having in view the definite purpose of accom- 
plishing in three years the four-years’ course, 
she did not wish to jeopardize her chances of 
graduation by any neglect of study. 

In view of the condition of affairs at Oak- 
lands, Mrs. Haughton readily consented; and 
with the exception of a two-weeks’ visit to a 
particular chum just before the opening of the 
session, she applied herself almost as assidu- 
ously as in mid-session. 

Xow, at the beginning of her last year, she 
was fully alongside of Morna Lea, the ac- 
knowledged leader of the seniors. Mauna Loa 
the girl was styled by her school-mates, with 
that sometimes singular appositeness of school- 
girl nomenclature, of which the significance is 
not far to seek, and the meaning of which is 
very obvious to all concerned when anything 
goes wrong with her. 

Morna Lea’s talents were indisputable, but 
her temperament was fiery, even to the verge of 
being volcanic; and when not restrained by the 
presence of the Superior and the sterner Sis- 


176 


STELLA HOPE 


ters, her outbursts of temper were frequently 
appalling. 

For two sessions Morna Lea had stood fore- 
most, and her great ambition was to be the first 
honor- woman in all departments. Many a girl 
had quailed at the thought of placing herself in 
competition with this vehement and revengeful 
nature; but Stella, encouraged by her class- 
mates and instructresses, besides being urged 
on by the same ambitious aims, dared the re- 
sult ; and her courage rose with the occasion as 
she threw herself, heart and soul, into the con- 
test. 

When Morna Lea learned then that Stella 
Hope had dared openly to become her competi- 
tor, the explosions of her wrath were terrific. 
Both girls were orphans, and both knew they 
were to look forward to their own hands and 
brains as the artificers of their fortunes. The 
Sisters were only so many Parcae, impartial 
and inflexible. 

Morna Lea had no relatives that she knew 
of. She had been adopted in infancy by a lady 
of small means, and when the latter died, rec- 
ognizing the girPs talents though deriving 
little pleasure from them, she had bequeathed 
a small sum, with a slight addition from the 
church-society to which she belonged, to enable 
Morna to finish her education at the Convent of 
Santa Maria of The Doves. 

So then the two girls started for the race, 
and they kept together for the three months 
preceding the Christmas holidays. Stella was 


STELLA HOPE 


177 


cordially urged to come home for rest and rec- 
reation ; but knowing that her competitor 
would remain to study, she regretfully de- 
clined. She could not allow her rival that ad- 
vantage. 

The new year opened with both girls showing 
the same determination and keeping equal pace. 
Spring approached, and under the great mental 
strain there was danger of breakdown, but they 
slackened not their efforts. In health, as in 
mental capacity, they were equally matched, for 
both had superb constitutions and much physi- 
cal endurance. 

Other girls, pining for home, wearied of their 
books and counted the days till the close; but 
to these two the hours sped too rapidly and the 
apple blossoms appeared to have bloomed al- 
most out of the snow. 

Here we will leave them till the close, and 
turn our eyes in the direction of Oaklands, 
where, with the perfumes of honeysuckles and 
jasmine floating on the breezes, we find the fam- 
ily seated in the same room as that in which we 
first found them. The afternoon mail had just 
been received, and as Nellie distributed it a sud- 
den trembling seized her as she handed to her 
mother a letter with a foreign postmark. 

Mrs. Haughton took it, and exclaiming 
‘ ^ Carlsbad, ’ ’ eagerly broke the seal, and calling 
the attention of her daughters, read it aloud. 
Nellie was very thankful that the attention of 


II 


178 


STELLA HOPE 


the family was directed to the letter and not 
to herself. 


‘Carlsbad, May 12th , 18 — 

‘ ‘ ‘ My Dear Cousin Kate : 

‘ ‘ ‘ From my long silence yon have every right 
to suppose me beneath the sweep of the broad 
Atlantic, or under the turf of some European 
God’s-acre; but I am pleased to inform you 
that the ‘shackles of earth’s immurement’ still 
hold me a prisoner, and thanks to a merciful 
Providence and my physicians, I am greatly 
improved in health and able to locomote myself 
with the aid of my crutches. 

“ ‘The famous Dr. declares that medical 

skill can do no more for me ; and such being the 
case, I shall now turn my face homeward to 
look after my interests, especially as a claim 
has been made upon my property which, if al- 
lowed, will take exactly half; but I shall not 
shed any tears over it as I shall still have 
enough for moderate wants. 

“ ‘Before going West to live permanently I 
shall be glad to stop over and make you a visit 
of a week or two, if entirely agreeable to your- 
self and family. Please be kind enough to re- 
ply at as early a date as possible, for now that 
I have determined to return home I am eager 
to start. My fidus Achates is still with me, and 
will accompany me wherever I go until we 
reach my home. 

“ ‘Bemember me very cordially to all my 
cousins, whom I hope to see in the near future ; 


STELLA HOPE 


179 


and for yourself, accept my assurances of sin- 
cere regard. 

^Faithfully yours, 

^W. Willoughby. 

By the time the letter came to an end, Nellie 
had, to all outward appearances, regained her 
composure, and was the first to speak. 

‘^Oh, mama^ I am so rejoiced to hear his 
health is so much improved, even if he has al- 
ways to use crutches!” 

^Wes, it is certainly gratifying; but what a 
pity the poor fellow will lose half of his prop- 
erty, ’ ’ answered her mother, the ruling passion 
still very strong. 

am sorry he has to bring that presumptu- 
ous Mr. Weston with him. I would suppose 
that Will might now dispense with the services 
of a companion,” remarked Marie. 

Ethel had remained silent up to the present 
moment. Now she said retrospectively, 

^‘Bita and myself on one occasion almost 
had a stiff quarrel about him. She liked him 
exceedingly, and considered him a gentleman. 
I contended that Cousin Will’s paid companion 
could not expect to be ranked as himself. We 
almost came to blows, because of her warm 
defense. Now, with a larger experience, and 
recollecting his general demeanor, I don’t know 
but that she was right.” 

‘^He is well enough, if he had only recog- 
nized his place,” answered Mrs. Haughton 
dryly. 


4 


180 


STELLA HOPE 


Then addressing her question to them all 
generally, she looked furtively at Nellie as she 
asked, 

Shall I write Will to come, girls T’ 

‘^Oh, mama, do write at once and insist! 
for now that he has lost so much of his prop- 
erty he may think that our cousinly interest has 
declined,^’ and true-hearted Nellie reddened 
with shame at the bare idea. 

Her mother saw the flush, drew her own con- 
clusions, and when she had gathered her writ- 
ing-materials together she soliloquized, 

^‘Comparatively poor and a life-long cripple. 
Not a brilliant marriage for her, but I believe 
her to be sincerely attached to him. She is now 
twenty-four and no other prospect since she re- 
fused Alfred. Well, it is said marriages are 
made in heaven. I shall just let the affair take 
its course,’’ and she wrote to Will to come, by 
all means. 

“Nellie,” said Ethel the next day, as they 
were sitting together, “I used to think when 
Will was here that if he recovered his health 
he would propose to you. ’ ’ 

“Nonsense, Ethel!” exclaimed Nellie, yet 
blushing notwithstanding. “How could you 
imagine a man so afflicted would be thinking of 
marriage? Besides, how could a homely body 
like myself stand any chance beside such a beau- 
tiful sister?” 

“I did think at first that he had fallen a 
victim to my charms; but I was very rude to 
him once, and he never liked me afterward. 


STELLA HOPE 


181 


When he comes now I shall be very sweet to 
him and cnt you out. ’ ’ 

have no doubt of your being able to do so, 
whether you try or not,’^ replied Nellie; and 
though she laughed, there was an undertone of 
sadness in her voice which her younger sister, 
rendered wiser and more sympathetic by her 
late unfortunate experience, did not fail to de- 
tect. She answered quickly, 

was only teasing you, dear; I hope I am a 
very ditferent girl from the Ethel of three 
years ago. Besides, I could never wish to sup- 
plant a sister.” Marie had come in now, and 
this little fling brought a conscious flush to her 
usually pale cheek ; and rising, quickly she left 
the room. 

‘‘Oh, Ethel! how could you so wound poor, 
unhappy Marie?” asked Nellie, much pained. 

“It was entirely unintentional, I assure you. 
I began without thinking, and having started 
to say it, I did not know how to stop short. I 
think I have been wonderfully considerate of 
her feelings, never by word or deed to have 
reproached her.” 

“And so do we all think, my sweet sister, and 
honor you for it ; she, most of all — she has told 
me so.” 

“I do not deserve any credit for it, Nellie. 
If I had ever really loved Mr. Mora, I could 
not so easily have forgiven.” 

“Oh, yes, you would, dear. There has been a 
wonderful change in you for the better,” and 


182 STELLA HOPE 

Nellie patted her sister’s cheek most affection- 
ately. 

‘‘Poor Marie! I will go and ask her pardon 
for my thoughtless remark. She looks so sad, 
and has so much to be regretful over.” 

She went and tapped at the door of her sis- 
ter’s room; but impulsively went in without 
waiting for an invitation to enter. Marie had 
just taken her awakened little daughter in her 
arms and was weeping over her. Tears sprang 
to Ethel’s eyes, and moving quickly to her sis- 
ter’s side she stooped over and kissed her, say- 
ing, 

“Dear Marie, forgive me; I spoke those 
words thoughtlessly. I had quite forgotten, as 
well as forgiven.” 

And as the sisters embraced, Marie said, 

“I can never forgive myself, dear, except in 
remembering from what fate I have saved 
you. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER XVIII 

Several weeks later saw Will and Weston in- 
stalled in their old quarters at Oaklands. The 
congratulations that were showered upon the 
quondam invalid as he walked in, supported 
only by his crutches, were effusive but sincere. 
The welcome extended to Weston was polite, 
but scarcely more. If Mrs. Haughton could 
have gotten out of having him in her house she 
would have done so, notwithstanding the lib- 
eral board which she was to receive for him, 
and the very good use to which she could put 
the same. But she could not afford to offend 
Will through his friend, and always consider- 
ing the question of expediency, she yielded to 
necessity and put the best face upon it. 

Will had gracefully remembered all the mem- 
bers of the family while abroad, and the gifts 
which he brought were handsome and appro- 
priate. 

Weston presented but one, and that to Nel- 
lie, which she accepted with becoming appre- 
ciation ; but when she opened the little package 
and saw it, she gave a cry of delight. It was a 
beautifully chased gold thimble, set round the 
rim with turquoises, a silver needle-case, and 
delicate embroidery-scissors, with other appur- 
tenances of lady-like industry. 

‘‘Oh! Mr. Weston, how can I sufficiently 
thank you! You must be a wizard to have 


184 


STELLA HOPE 


guessed so exactly what I have been long wish- 
ing for. I shall always be embroidering to 
show my pretty thimble and scissors.’’ 

Not even Mrs. Haughton could object to such 
a delicate offering. She merely said, later, to 
Nellie, 

‘‘If it had been anything else, I would not 
have allowed you to accept it; but a work- 
box — ^well ! ’ ’ 

The two young men had heard no word of 
Marie’s marriage, and were much surprised 
when she appeared with the little Florine. Her 
mother saved her some embarrassment by tak- 
ing the child and saying, 

“Here, Will, is another cousin that arrived 
at Oaklands last September, Miss Florine 
Mora. Marie has been married two years, but 
her husband is now in Mexico on business.” 

The little kinswoman was kissed and compli- 
mented, and Marie smiled in a gratified way, 
if a trifle sadly, and Will declared she inherited 
the Haughton beauty; but Marie looked em- 
barrassed when he said, 

“I hope I shall have the pleasure of meeting 
your husband, Marie, while I am here,” which 
remark she answered so evasively that when 
Will and Weston were alone Will said, 

“I don’t think Mrs. Mora looks especially 
happy, do you, Wess?” 

“No, I do not. I am afraid she made a bad 
marriage; she is so faded, and happiness is 
always a rejuvenator. ” 

Will smiled to himself at this remark; for a 


STELLA HOPE 


185 


few hours previous he had regarded his own 
image in the mirror, and had remarked to it, 

‘‘You look really happy, and handsome, old 
fellow. ’ ’ 

“I think Nellie looks younger and prettier 
even than she did three years ago,’’ said Wes- 
ton mischievously. 

Had Mrs. Haughton heard the name of her 
daughter fall so familiarly from the lips of this 
young man she would no doubt have shown him 
the door; but the familiarity appeared not to 
strike Will unpleasantly. He only laughed, and 
said, 

“You think so, really? Well, so do I.” 

Weston had waited expectantly for some 
mention by the family of Stella’s name; but 
they appeared to have almost forgotten her ex- 
istence ; so he prompted Will to make some in- 
quiry. 

“Stella? — oh, yes; she will be home in a few 
days. She expects to graduate with honors, 
and return to us quite an accomplished young 
lady,” Nellie had replied. 

The next day Weston left Oaklands on a trip 
of “only a few days,” and suggested that as 
the hour of his return was not fixed no one need 
be sent to meet him. 

During the few days that followed. Will and 
Nellie were thrown very much together, and 
then it was that she called upon him for a de- 
tailed account of himself for the three years 
of his absence. 

He gave a pretty succinct narrative of all 


186 


STELLA HOPE 


that he had done and undergone from the time 
he had left Oaklands to the time of his return ; 
how slowly and continuously he had endured 
untold tortures in the hope of restoration to 
health and usefulness, and how life would have 
been an intolerable burden but for the hope of 
ultimate triumph. Then at last had come the 
day when he had been told that medical skill 
could do nothing more for him, and, after hav- 
ing passed six months in visiting the most cele- 
brated spots in Europe, he had joyfully turned 
his face homeward. 

Incidentally he touched upon his coming loss 
of property, but declared that he had small 
cause for repining, in view of restored health 
and improved locomotion. Nevertheless, he 
would still have amply sufficient to maintain 
himself and even a wife — if he were so fortun- 
ate as to win one — in comfort, and some degree 
of affiuence. All the while he was scrutinizing 
Nellie ^s face for some token of her feelings, 
some little betrayal of consciousness on which 
to fasten a slight ray of hope. 

And she, frank as the light of day, never sus- 
pecting his motive in these communications, 
gave no sign of more than cousinly interest, nor 
guessed how deep was the disappointment 
which, after three years of unrelinquished 
hope, he now experienced. 

The old games of backgammon, as well as 
the readings, were resumed; sometimes she, 
sometimes he, reading aloud. There were mo- 
ments when certain passages seemed so appo- 


STELLA HOPE 


187 


site that he was tempted to cast the book aside, 
and, taking her hand in his, to tell her the whole 
story of his love and fears and to ask her to 
share his life and diminished fortunes ; bnt she 
appeared so entirely unconscious, so serene, 
that he ever stopped short with the tender 
words upon the tip of his tongue, fearing lest 
by the disclosure of his sentiments he might 
even lose the happiness he now could claim — 
the checkered happiness of sitting beside her, 
of looking into her clear, truthful eyes ; of con- 
stant association with her; albeit there was 
one topic, dear to his heart, that he dared not 
broach. 

If only once her voice had faltered, her hand 
had trembled, or an eyelid quivered, it would 
have sufficed; and their two souls would, ‘‘like 
the mingling of waters,’’ have rushed into one. 


CHAPTER XIX 


Commencement! What youthful heart does 
not begin to bound, and nerves to tingle at the 
word? What a world of ambitious effort, of 
proud aspirations, does it not recall when, in 
after-years of disillusions, we look back to the 
moment when, standing with diploma in hand, 
we felt that practically we had ‘‘the world in a 
sling^’? 

The large auditorium of the convent was now 
crammed to its utmost capacity as the gradu- 
ates, dressed in spotless white, took their seats, 
awaiting the distribution of prizes. 

It was a supreme moment when the orator of 
the occasion advanced and took his stand be- 
side the table whereon lay the awards which 
were to crown their ambitious and faithful ef- 
forts. 

Beginning with the least distinguished, many 
fluttering hearts were made proudly happy be- 
fore Stella Hope and Morna Lea were reached. 
One moment more, and all the world — their 
world — ^would know which was the first-honor 
graduate. 

It was a moment of tense expectation. Stella 
is pale and red by turns, like the quivering and 
waving flashes of the aurora borealis, but fiery 
Mauna Loa is at white heat, her black eyes 
hashing with brilliancy, her heart a glowing 
crater. 


STELLA HOPE 


189 


Neither to her nor to Stella is it known 
whether either has a relative in all that massed 
crowd to smile approval npon untiring en- 
deavor; yet each feels that it is a fateful mo- 
ment, the turn-stile into the arena of future ac- 
tion. 

The orator takes up a wreath of fair white 
flowers and, with aggravating slowness, con- 
tinues, 

‘‘Behold here in my hand the second honor 
of this deservedly honored institution: second, 
because there cannot be two first honors. To 
the young lady whose fair brow is to he encir- 
cled by this graceful and appropriate tribute, 
let me say that the second honor here is far 
higher than the first award in many another 
college of less exalted excellence. Miss Morna 
Lea will please come forward and receive it.^^ 

There is some little delay, a slight whisper- 
ing and confusion, and then the sudden disap- 
pearance through a side door of the young lady 
in question. 

After a pause a Sister comes forward, utters 
a few words, and takes charge of the wreath. 

The speaker continues. 

“I am sorry to announce that the young lady 
who obtained the second prize has been taken 
suddenly ill and has left the hall. She hears 
with her our heartfelt sympathy, as well as our 
praises for her distinguished attainments.’^ 

Taking up the last award, a beautiful crown 
of flowers, he proceeds, 

“This crown betokens the first honor; and 


190 


STELLA HOPE 


she whose head is to be adorned with this high- 
est award of our venerable institution is a 
queen indeed. Queenly in accomplishments and 
intellect, and trebly queenly in all the graces of 
character that go to the making of a perfect 
womanhood. 

‘‘This coronal of Nature ^s own is awarded to 
her who has been foremost in earnest, conscien- 
tious, persistent effort — generous in emulation, 
noble in character, pure and lovely in all the 
attributes of female excellence. To Stella Hope 
this tribute is justly awarded; and with it go 
the love and benedictions of this pious sister- 
hood, whose pleasant duty it has been to train 
her youthful mind and help form her character. 
She will please present herself for coronation. ’ ’ 

Amidst much flutter and moving of heads 
among the audience, Stella — our Stella — arises. 

She is all blushes, but graceful and dignifled 
in pose as she moves forward and stands in 
front of the speaker. Her back is turned 
toward one in the audience who sits intently 
watching her with a glance in which are ex- 
pressed many and varied emotions. 

He notes with intense pleasure the girlish, 
graceful figure, the noble contour of head and 
shoulders; and then she turns, crowned with 
flowers, smiles mingling with blushes, to take 
her seat. 

At sight of those features, so well known, yet 
changed to so much greater beauty and charac- 
ter, his heart gives a great leap, and then sinks 
suddenly to a feeling akin to dismay and almost 


STELLA HOPE 


191 


consternation. She is too fair, too queenly for 
his presumptuous aspirations ; and, with a sigh, 
he catches himself wishing that she were less 
fair, less like a young sovereign. 

A mist comes over his eyes as the rapid 
thought flashes through his mind, ‘‘What if 
after all she be not for meT’ 

He had intended under no circumstances to 
reveal himself to her on the present occasion; 
but he forgot his determination when, as vale- 
dictorian, she rose to read her address ; and he 
leaned forward eagerly to catch every inflec- 
tion of her voice, every expression of her mo- 
bile features. 

We will not give the address to our reader, 
since the public is familiar with such efforts. 
It was only at the close that Weston found him- 
self moved as, turning toward her fellow- 
graduates, she said, 

“We are now, my sisters, but as blocks of 
marble out of which a more skilful sculptor 
than Michael Angelo may some day evoke ‘a 
possible angel. ’ Let us, then, whatever sorrows 
may betide, submit to the shaping chisel, and 
with the poet say, 

“ ‘O blows that smite, O hurts that pierce 
This shrinking heart of mine, 

What are ye but the Master’s tools, 

Shaping a work divine? 

O hopes that crumble at my feet, 

O joy that mocks and flies. 

What are ye but the clogs that bind 
My spirit from the skies? 


192 


STELLA HOPE 


Sculptor of Souls! I lift to Thee 
Encumbered heart and hands. 

Spare not the chisel; set me free. 

However dear the bands. 

How blest, if all these seeming ills 
Which draw my thoughts to Thee 
Should only prove that Thou wilt make 
An angel out of me.’ ” 

She had raised her eyes to heaven, and in 
the earnestness of her thought had uncon- 
sciously clasped her hands upon her bosom. A 
storm of applause hurst forth as she descended 
the platform; and Weston murmured as she 
disappeared from his view, 

‘ ^ Too angelic for me to aspire to. ’ ’ 

Before departing with the crowd, we will fol- 
low Morna Lea, after she so precipitately left 
the auditorium. 

Pressing her hand over her mouth to stifle 
a cry of rage, she rushed to the dormitory and 
flung herself headlong upon her couch. Roll- 
ing and tossing in wild passion she tore her 
hair and anathematized the convent, the Sisters, 
the orator; and most deeply, with unquench- 
able hatred, her fortunate competitor, Stella 
Hope. So violent were her emotions that when, 
some minutes later, the Sister who had received 
her award came to bring it to her, and to offer 
sympathy for her disappointment, she was 
found lying face downward upon her couch, ap- 
parently in a faint. 

With gentle, consolatory words. Sister Ce- 
leste laid the wreath beside the girl, when 
presto! she sprang from her recumbent posi- 


STELLA HOPE 


193 


tion, seized the garland, hurled it furiously 
upon the floor, and in a frantic outburst of rage 
trampled it under foot ; at the same time pour- 
ing out such a torrent of invective and stormy 
passion as horrified the pious Sister to such a 
degree that, putting her fingers to her ears, she 
ran from the dormitory as if fearing that the 
judgment of Heaven might fall on her if she 
listened to such impious words. 

After Sister Celeste had escaped from the 
girPs wrath, the latter remained standing a sec- 
ond as if struck with a sudden thought. An 
evil light illumined her passion- wrought counte- 
nance, and she stamped her foot on the floor. 

will do it, and blast her forever,’’ she mut- 
tered, with clenched teeth, and started for the 
door; but paused half-way to consider. Then 
she moved quickly to a dressing-table, took up 
a knife and a pair of scissors, and went out. In 
the space of ten minutes she returned, still 
smiling; but now with an expression of tri- 
umphant revenge deposited knife and scissors 
upon the table, and disrobing herself with all 
possible dispatch, got into bed. When the girls 
of that dormitory entered to retire for the 
night she appeared to he sleeping. 

‘‘Poor Morna ! I am afraid she takes it very 
hard. But for disappointing the expectations 
of my friends and teachers, I would rather have 
lost the first honor than have crossed her,” 
whispered Stella to a companion as they passed 


12 


194 


STELLA HOPE 


Morna’s couch, of which the curtains were 
only half closed. 

‘‘Nonsense!’’ replied the other girl. “The 
honor is justly yours, and there is not a girl in 
all the school, nor teacher either, that is not de- 
lighted at your carrying it off. With that fiend- 
ish temper of hers she will get many hard blows 
in the world; and I, for one, will not be sorry 
to see her humbled a few times.” 

“No whispering, young ladies. It is late, and 
some of you have to make an early start in the 
morning,” admonished a Sister, and soon there 
was silence in the dove-cot. 


CHAPTEi^ XX. 


It was certainly a very genuine surprise, as . 
well as pleasure, when, on the following after- 
noon, as she descended from the parlor-car at 
the Oaklands Station, Stella encountered Wes- 
ton, cigar in hand. 

The recognition was mutual. 

‘‘Why, bless my eyes! if this is not poor 
Dido’s mistress, my young friend of three years 
ago,” exclaimed he, in well-feigned astonish- 
ment as, throwing away his cigar and pressing 
forward, he took in his own her extended hand. 
She smiled her pleasure, in a half return of the 
old-time diffidence. Then Weston placed his 
other hand over hers in a silent pressure, really 
too much moved to say more at the instant. 

In that brief interval, as she looked upon 
his scarcely changed face and heard the well- 
remembered voice, it all came back to her in a 
rush of feeling — that checkered summer of 
pleasure and pain. She forgot the lapse of 
time and the fact that she was no longer the 
child, but a young woman — forgot everything, 
except that once more she stood in imagination 
beneath the bending oak weeping distressfully 
over the dead pet in her blood-stained hand, as 
he, in sincere regret and sympathy, was com- 
forting her. 

The almost incessant application to study of 
the past three years had done wonders to bury 


196 


STELLA HOPE 


the painful as well as sweet recollections of 
those by-gone days ; but now the hand of Mem- 
ory swept swiftly aside the veil, and it seemed 
almost as if the long interval were but a dream 
from which she was even now awakening. 

Weston read all this in her expressive face, 
and was satisfied with his well-planned coup; 
for the icy crust of reserve which separation 
and the lapse of time will frequently cause to 
form over the surface of diffident natures was 
now broken by one well-directed stroke. He 
was inclined to hug himself for the happy in- 
spiration that had come to his aid at this critical 
moment. 

They were talking on the platform when 
Uncle Ben, two minutes late, drove up with the 
Haughton carriage. Ashamed of even such a 
slight degree of unpunctuality, he leaped from 
the box with the youthful agility of twenty, and 
advanced, hat in hand, bowing almost to the 
ground, and in the excess of his pleasure, and 
expression of humble welcome, showing every 
tooth in his mouth. 

Howdy, Miss Stella; howdy, young mas- 
ter,’’ was his greeting; but Stella, remember- 
ing many a kind word and act of the old servant 
when she had been an isolated inmate of her 
aunt’s home, reached out her hand. 

shall not be content with a salaam. Uncle 
Ben ; you must shake hands with me. ’ ’ 

‘‘Lor’, Missis, you done growed so tall an’ 
beaut ’ful, I ’clar’s fo’ gracious I nuver would 
a-knowed you nowha’s else in de worl’. I 


STELLA HOPE 


197 


’spec’s young master here is almos’ glad ter see 
you ’s I is,” said the old man, delighted at her 
hearty recognition. Weston joined in the laugh 
with which the privileged old servant punctu- 
ated his sly remark. 

‘^Did any one bring a horse for me. Uncle 
Ben?” he asked, well knowing what the answer 
would be. 

‘H’m ’fear’d not, sah. I b’lieves Mistis 
wusn’t lookin’ fur you at dis pertic’lar time. 
Least more, I didn’t hear tell on it,” answered 
he, looking much concerned, and assuming an 
apologetic expression. 

‘‘Never mind, Uncle Ben; I have no doubt 
Miss Stella will allow me a seat in the car- 
riage. ’ ’ 

“Why, come in, of course; no one can say it 
is not capacious enough for two,” said Stella, 
laughing. 

“It is large enough for all one’s friends — ex- 
cept on the present occasion,” he answered as 
he got in, adding as he took the seat by her side, 
“I am glad there are only two of us now, for I 
have a world of things to tell and to hear.” 

“Then you must do all of the telling; there 
is little to hear from me. It has been study, 
study, study — nothing else with me for the 
three past years. But I shall delight to hear 
of your and Cousin Will’s adventures and ex- 
periences. ’ ’ 

She was looking at him now and smiling 
frankly, with none of the old-time diffidence; 


198 


STELLA HOPE 


and he was struck with the beauty of her ripe 
lips and dazzling teeth. 

‘^No, I will tell you all that some other time; 
now you must begin at the beginning and tell 
me everything about your studies, your particu- 
lar preferences and difficulties, your class- 
mates, your visits to Oaklands, and your 
awards; for,’’ he added, have thought so 
much about you, and have been interested in 
your advancement, although you didn’t do me 
the honor to tell me you were going oft to 
school, that morning three years ago, when you 
left Oaklands so abruptly,” regarding her at- 
tentively. 

At this sudden reminder of the bitterness of 
that morning the blood rose to her cheek, her 
eyes filled with tears and, in a voice half-choked 
with emotion, she said, 

‘‘Ah, the cruelty of it ! I knew it myself only 
the evening before; and I was strictly forbid- 
den to speak of it to any one, scarcely to say 
good-by. I have never known the cause of Aunt 
Kate’s harshness on that occasion, especially at 
a time when my heart was almost breaking at 
the thought of going, and the dread of living 
among strangers.” 

Her auditor could have enlightened her as to 
the cause, but for the present he preferred to 
keep his own counsel. He therefore turned the 
conversation on her school life, the incidents ol 
which she related to him, in humorous, viva- 
cious, or pathetic tones as they recurred to her, 
looking back over the three years through the 


STELLA HOPE 


199 


diminisliing lenses of time and seeing all things 
in their relation to the present. 

Lastly, she told of her competition with 
‘‘Manna Loa,’’ explaining the significance of 
the sobriquet, and ended modestly with her own 
winning of the first honor, and the fear of hav- 
ing incurred the lasting dislike of the disap- 
pointed competitor. Then her expressive 
eyes grew dark with feeling at the parting of 
teachers and chnms, at the remembrance of 
which her voice sank pathetically; for the 
friends she had won had been very dear to 
this whilom isolated girl. As Weston sat and 
looked at the beautiful play of her features and 
listened to the cultured voice, giving wider ex- 
pression to the fine command of language, his 
heart swelled with pride, and smiling with an 
inward satisfaction at some happy thoughts, he 
could scarcely refrain then and there from tak- 
ing her hand in his own and telling her how far 
she surpassed his most sanguine expectations. 

In the pleasure of seeing and listening to her 
he felt that every moment of this drive was run- 
ning itself out “in golden sands’’ ; and in order 
to prolong the time to the utmost he put his 
head out of the carriage window and asked 
Uncle Ben not to drive so fast as Miss Stella 
wished to see all the old familiar scenes. 

Then Uncle Ben, with a knowing wink at the 
horses, let them drop into a slow trot, and 
Stella smiled as she remembered that she had 
not looked out half a dozen times. She now did 


200 


STELLA HOPE 


look out, and perceived that they were nearing 
the outer gate of the plantation. 

^‘But here we are nearly home, and I have 
been telling you all these prosy things, when I 
so much want to hear about your wa;nderings. 
Tell me something of them,’^ she said. 

He answered, 

‘‘We are too near Oaklands now to begin. I 
hope to have many opportunities to relate the 
more pleasing incidents before we part again.’’ 

In a short while they were at the entrance of 
the avenue. 

“Oh,” she exclaimed, “how delightful to 
know that I shall be free of school discipline 
once more. Already this glorious shade re- 
minds me of my old untrammeled rambles in the 
green- wood. How I shall enjoy them again!” 
Joy and anticipation beamed from her eyes as 
she leaned far out of the carriage window to 
see her old giant; but Weston’s eyes traveled 
no farther than her face, while a feeling of de- 
light at being with her again took possession of 
him so intensely as to be almost pain. 

“Miss Stella,” said he, with a shade of 
anxiety on his face, as the carriage rolled in 
upon the broad graveled circle, “are we to be 
the same good friends as of yore, or will the 
fact of your being a grown-up young lady place 
me at a chilling distance?” 

She looked at him a moment in surprise, and 
then said with feeling, 

“Of course we are to be the same good 
friends if you wish. I cannot forget that when 


STELLA HOPE 


201 


I was almost friendless yon were very good to 
me. ’ ’ 

It was Uncle Ben^s delight to dash rapidly 
around the circle, with much crashing of the 
white gravel under hoof and wheel, and then 
to pull up suddenly before the broad steps of 
the portico. All the family, including Will, 
were there to welcome Stella. Mrs. Haughton 
had frowned ominously when she saw Weston 
in the carriage; but she received her niece 
smilingly, and after kissing her, held her for a 
moment at arm’s length to take a good survey 
of her. That the scrutiny was satisfactory was 
evidenced by her gratified smile. 

Nellie’s greeting was the same affectionate 
salutation as ever, hut Ethel surprised her by 
the warmth of her welcome, and even Marie was 
very cordial. 

Will claimed the privilege of cousinship and 
kissed her heartily. Mrs. Haughton turned 
aside to Weston. 

‘^How did you come, Mr. Weston?” she in- 
quired coldly. 

came in the carriage. Madam, as I thought 
you perceived, ’ ’ he answered with quiet dignity. 

meant, did you come in the same train 
with my niece?” she explained impatiently. 

presume so. Madam, since we met as we 
got out of the cars,” he answered coldly. 

‘ ‘ The train must have been behind time, ’ ’ she 
remarked suspiciously. 

^‘Possibly; I cannot say, though, as I do not 
know exactly when it is due,” carelessly. He 


202 


STELLA HOPE 


was becoming restive under these questionings 
and innuendoes. He resented their cool imper- 
tinence, and now walked over to Will. 

The baffled matron bit her lip in a determined 
manner. She foresaw that this young ^ man 
would again give her trouble, unless she nipped 
it in the bud by laying the matter before Will 
and asking him to dismiss his now unnecessary 
companion. 

After tea, when, according to her former cus- 
tom, Stella was slipping into her old corner, 
Nellie supplanted her, saying, 

‘Won can never have it any more, Stella; 
you have outgrown it quite.’’ 

It was to Weston a happy chance that he 
found himself beside Stella, as WiU beside 
Nellie. He made the most of the circumstance, 
much to the indignation of Mrs. Haughton, who 
resolved to lose no time in speaking to Will. 

Certainly she had never heard Weston make 
himself so agreeable ; and his powers of enter- 
tainment were a revelation to her, strengthen- 
ing her determination to get rid of him as soon 
as possible, seeing that he was a person dan- 
gerous to the peace of the family. He appeared 
to know just how to draw Stella out, and there 
was as much wit as ingenuousness in her parry 
and thrust. In the midst of an animated con- 
versation she turned to Ethel and asked, 

'‘By the way, when did you hear from Miss 
Rita, and will she make you a visit this sum- 
mer!” 

"I hope so; I had a letter last week in which 


STELLA HOPE 


203 


sHe said she might visit me later in the 
season.’’ 

‘ ‘ Oh ! I am so glad. I used to worship her as 
some superior being; and so did you, didn’t 
you, Mr. Weston?” she asked naively, turning 
toward him. 

^Wes,” he answered, somewhat taken aback, 
^ ^ I certainly admired her very much ; but I be- 
lieve Prudence held up a warning finger before 
I reached the degree you mention,” he ans- 
wered frankly. 

‘‘Why so?” 

“Because,” he replied steadily, “I knew 
that while everything a noble and charming 
woman should be, she must reasonably expect 
to make a brilliant marriage — a millionaire, or 
a title, perhaps. And I, even had I worshiped 
her as you say, had nothing to offer her worthy 
of her consideration.” 

“Except your own sweet self?” laughed 
Nellie. “Who knows what the result might 
have been ? She has all the money perhaps that 
she wants.” 

“But I had another good reason at that 
time,” said Weston. 

“ What was it?” asked Stella unguardedly. 

“A previous attachment,” he replied 
gravely. 

Did she understand, he asked himself, that 
she quicklj^ and adroitly changed the conversa- 
tion? He assuredly wished her to do so, yet in 
her even tones he detected no consciousness. 

Later in the evening Stella was requested to 


204 


STELLA HOPE 


play. Very unassumingly she took her seat, 
and without trivial excuses played selection 
after selection, as called for. 

Her execution was quite brilliant and her 
taste and feeling artistic. Her auditors were 
genuinely surprised. She sang also, at the gen- 
eral request, and her voice, while inferior to 
EthePs, was sympathetic and extremely pleas- 
ing. She played and sang as if she enjoyed the 
music as much as her auditors appeared to do. 

In accompanying her hack to the portico 
Weston found the opportunity he desired, to 
ask, in a low tone, 

^‘Why did you never reply to my letter, after 
you went to the convent T’ 

‘‘For the best of reasons — I did not receive 
one from you. ’ ’ 

“But I wrote, explaining everything.’’ 

‘ ‘ Then the Mother must have confiscated it, ’ ’ 
she answered, glad to know that he had written. 

Of course Weston knew well why he had not 
received an answer, hut he took this occasion 
to let her know that he had written. 


CHAPTER XXI 


In vain did Weston turn and turn again his 
tumbled pillow that night in the wooing of the 
drowsy god. 

For three long years he had speculated upon 
the idiosyncrasies of this young girl and won- 
dered into what manner of woman she would 
develop; hut now he acknowledged to himself 
that she had greatly transcended his most glow- 
ing hopes. 

Although he determined to hold fast to her 
identity with the Stella of earlier acquaintance, 
yet grasp for it as he would, it eluded him. 

Even in his broken slumbers her personality 
seemed ever flitting before him in tormenting 
gaukelspiely half mocking, wholly enchanting; 
and in every kaleidoscopic view of her many 
attractions she drifted farther and farther 
away from his outstretched arms, finally dis- 
appearing, and leaving him desolate. 

And now Weston, who had for three years 
cherished the idea that in his own good time he 
would have only to put forth his hand and take 
to himself this maiden, sees her, like the golden 
apple of Hesperides, high, high above him; 
while a watchful gorgon in the shape of Mrs. 
Haughton was ever guarding her from his pre- 
sumptuous reach. 

After a restless and torturing night he rose 
early, and, drawn by an irresistible impulse, 


206 


STELLA HOPE 


sought the wood where he had first spoken with 
her, and where he had acted as tutor. 

Deep in meditation, with an unwonted sad- 
ness oppressing his heart, he walked toward 
the well-remembered spot. A slight exclama- 
tion startled him, and glancing up he caught the 
flutter of a white dress, and saw Stella stand- 
ing before him, as blooming as a morning- 
glory. 

Surely there was something telepathic in the 
impulse which had brought them to the same 
spot; at any rate, both were momentarily dis- 
concerted ; but with a woman ^s readier tact she 
was the first to recover herself. 

^‘You perceive,’’ she said smiling, ‘Hhat the 
lapse of time cannot efface from my memory 
the dear companion of my lonely girlhood.” 

‘‘Is Dido the only companion you care to re- 
call in connection with this place?” he asked, 
regarding her earnestly. 

The rose-tint deepened on her cheek; and 
then looking at him with the frankest smile, she 
answered, 

“By no means. I shall ever gratefully re- 
member that to you, after my father, I owe the 
first stirring of my youthful ambitions; and 
the remembrance of you is as much connected 
with this spot as that of my poor little dumb 
pet.” 

CoTiYicctcd with this spot! Then I am to in- 
fer that when you are introduced to the gay and 
lashionable world the recollection of myself 
along with that of Dido, will be relegated to 


STELLA HOPE 


207 


the shades of this forest!” and, in spite of the 
effort to say this with mock ruefulness, there 
was an unsteady vibration in his voice that 
caught her sympathetic ear and made her 
hasten to say gravely, 

^^No; my heart is faithful to its early friend- 
ships. Besides, I do not expect to devote much 
of my time to the gay world. If my aunt has 
such designs, I must ask her to relinquish them. 
My ambitions are far other, I assure you.” 

Weston brightened up at this. 

‘^May I inquire what are your ambitions!” 

‘‘Certainly; though I have nothing definite 
in view as yet. I wish to shape my future to 
please my generous uncle to whom I owe so 
much. ’ ’ 

“I hope you wdll at least allow yourself a 
sufficient resting-spell. I know enough of col- 
lege life to understand that a four-years^ 
course, accomplished in three, must have been 
both mentally and physically exhausting.” 

‘ ‘ Thanks. Do I look mentally and physically 
impaired!” she inquired, smiling archly. 

He hastened to declare that she looked like 
Hygeia, freshly risen from her dewy couch. 
But she went on earnestly. 

“A habit of several years is difficult to break 
off suddenly. I very keenly recognize that in 
these few years I have only gained the entrance 
to the fair fields of Knowledge. I cannot be 
content to remain standing at the gateway. I 
wish to pursue some of my studies much 
farther, especially my German and French. As 


208 


STELLA HOPE 


I hope to go abroad some day, I will probably 
teach, in the fall, as a step toward that end.” 

‘‘What! so soon? It wonld be unpardonable 
to allow it,” he exclaimed in strong disappro- 
bation. 

“An American girl of eighteen is her own 
arbitress, isn’t she?” 

“And you would no doubt reject all friendly 
counsel,” he said, tentatively. 

“Not at all; provided it coincide with my 
own wishes,” she answered, laughing. 

He laughed also, but there was a soupgon of 
bitterness in it. 

“Ah! women are all alike, from the peasant- 
girl to the queen.” Then with the view of 
bringing her back to the starting-point, he 
asked, “Do you remember the French lessons 
here? I suppose you now speak French like a 
Parisienne. ’ ’ 

“Yes, I remember. I have often wondered 
at your patience; and once I remember you 
teased me, and I wept as foolishly as ‘Sweet 
Alice’ of Ben Bolt memory.” 

“ ‘Would those days might come again,’ ” 
half hummed Weston. 

“Are our childhood days the happiest, as 
some assert?” she asked with a certain sweet 
wistfulness. 

‘^Cela depend/^ he answered briefly, foiled, 
and half vexed that she took every remark in 
such a matter-of-fact, impersonal manner. 

“I cannot believe it; for I cannot think any 
period of life satisfactory without some definite 


STELLA HOPE 


209 


aim, or object in view. None but an indolent 
nature can be content to recline at ease and 
look up at the stars, or drift away carelessly 
toward the uncertain Main of the Future. ’ ’ 
Weston flushed a little as he replied; 

‘‘A noble aim, whether realized or not, must 
always ennoble character. I am afraid that I 
myself have not always had such high aims as 
you may think a man ought to have, but I hope 
I am not one of those inconsequent, drifting- 
with-the-tide natures that you condemn. ’ ^ 

^‘Did you ever study for a regular profes- 
sion?’’ she asked suddenly, as though the idea 
had never occurred to her iDefore. 

^^No,” he replied, again disconcerted; per- 
haps by the unexpectedness of the question, 
‘‘but now that my dear friend is able to take 
care of himself I have considered the question 
of taking steps toward a settlement in life. ’ ’ 
“Ah! I see how unselfish you have been in 
sacrificing your inclinations to the claims of 
friendship. Every one must honor you for 
that; but what have you thought of turning 
your attention to?” 

Special pleading/^ he answered with a quiz- 
zical expression that puzzled her, but which she 
did not seek to have explained. 

“I think if I were a man I should prefer 
medicine to law,” she answered doubtfully. 
“Why?” 

“Because it appears to me there is a higher 
philanthropy in medicine.” 

13 


210 


STELI/A HOPE 


‘‘Don’t you think it better to select one’s pro- 
fession with reference to one’s aptitudes?” 

“Oh! assuredly, if we know what our apti- 
tudes are. Some have more versatility than 
others, and might be successful in any one of 
several professions,” smiling and bowing 
toward him with what he should have consid- 
ered arrant flattery in one less frank than her- 
self. 

With a deprecating inclination in return, he 
replied, 

“Well, I am convinced of mine; I have pon- 
dered over it three years. ’ ’ 

Perhaps it was just as well that the pre- 
paratory breakfast-ljell rang at this moment. 
He was glad of it, for prudence dictated that it 
were better not to be too hasty. Stella turned 
to go. 

“Allow me to accompany you. You need no 
longer be so under the domination of your 
aunt,” he said, determined, once for all, to as- 
sert himself. 

The latter saw them returning in company, 
and cast a most disapproving glance upon 
Weston. 

“I will speak to Will about it this very morn- 
ing,” she reiterated. Accordingly, as soon 
after breakfast as she could find him alone, she 
began without ceremony. 

“Will,” said she, “I wish to speak with you 
in regard to your — companion. I know you 
have quite an attachment for him, and I have 
no desire to say anything offensive ; but I must 


STELLA HOPE 


211 


say, that for a person in his position he has 
more presumption than any one I ever knew. 
I do not mind it so much on my own daughters^ 
account, for I have trained them according to 
my own ideas ; but you, or rather 7, know how 
unconventional Stella has always been. It is 
due I suppose to the lack of early training, as 
her father was something of a crank. Stella, 
even yet, seems to have no discrimination as to 
the ditferent grades of society.’’ 

She paused a moment, either to give Will a 
chance to put in a word, or to recover breath 
herself, and as he remained silent, she pro- 
ceeded. 

^‘This very morning she took a walk before 
breakfast with Mr. Weston. You must see for 
yourself that such presumption on his part is 
unpardonable and must be checked.” 

Again she paused ; and Will, who had 
listened throughout, with a peculiar expression 
on his face, half comic, half impatient, replied, 

‘‘Weston told me of the circumstance, and 
said the meeting was entirely unpremeditated. 
Neither of them knew that the other had gone 
in that direction. Having met, he could, as a 
gentleman, do no less than accompany her 
home. ’ ’ 

“Well, even granting that the meeting this 
morning was accidental, he has always been too 
free-and-easy for one in his position.” 

Will faced around squarely. 

“Cousin Kate,” he said, “will you kindly do 
me the favor to define precisely his position?” 


212 


STELLA HOPE 


^‘Certainly; you yourself defined it suffi- 
ciently when you wrote of him as your hired 
companion/’ she answered somewhat sharply. 

^‘1 never used the word hired/ ^ 

‘‘You did not! Then you let it be inferred 
that he was hired ; for no one would devote him- 
self to another for nearly four years, as he has 
done, without compensation,” she retorted. 

Will smiled dryly. 

“Yes, sometimes y though rarely, I must ad- 
mit. But since his freedom of manners gives 
so much offense, perhaps it may be best for all 
parties to enlighten you as to our true relations. 
If that does not satisfy you, then my friend and 
myself must bid farewell to your hospitable roof 
and betake ourselves where the difference in 
our social positions will not be so marked,” he 
answered with the nearest approach to sarcasm 
that she had ever heard from him. 

“I told you I had no intention of offending,” 
she began, half apologetically. 

“So I understand; and it is unreasonable, I 
suppose, for me to feel aggrieved when the 
truest and most disinterested friend man ever 
had is snubbed and insulted before my face ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Then why did you not say friend in the first 
instance!” she asked. 

“Because in our case the terms are synony- 
mous. He is paid, in a certain sense, but that 
does not render him less the gentleman. Had I 
the wealth of the Rothschilds I could never re- 
pay the loyal devotion he has, from first to last, 
given me. Moreover, he is my equal by birth 


STELLA HOPE 


213 


and education ; and my superior in all that con- 
stitutes manhood. He was reared with expec- 
tations of great wealth, but relinquished the 
right several years ago. Still, he has enough 
to live on very comfortably. Much as I admire 
Stella, I am at a loss to see in what respects he 
is not her equal.’’ 

Mrs. Haughton hemmed, and looked em- 
barrassed. 

‘^Really, this is quite a revelation. You 
should have been more explicit in the begin- 
ning. ’ ’ 

gave you credit for discrimination suffi- 
cient to recognize for yourself his superior 
qualities, ’ ’ returned Will, smiling. 

She now rose with dignity. 

‘‘To tell you the plain truth,” she said, “we 
all have our pet ideas and prejudices. I judged 
from your letter that his social status was much 
inferior to yours, and I have never taken the 
trouble to search out his perfections. I regard 
the fault as more yours than mine.” 

“Very well, then, I will bear all the blame for 
the past, as you will have to do for the future, ’ ’ 
he replied, now smiling pleasantly. 

‘ ‘ Oh ! I suppose there will be no occasion for 
snubbing if he is all you claim for him,” she 
answered, biting her lip in vexation. In vulgar 
parlance, “she had come to gather wool and 
had been shorn. ’ ’ She felt her discomfiture and 
was humiliated. Will repented somewhat of his 
plain speaking, and added, 

“It is not entirely impossible that Weston 


214 


STELLA HOPE 


may yet recover a portion of the property he 
relinquished. ’ ’ 

She did not reply immediately; but Will, 
watching the effect of the words, saw her fea- 
tures relax. Then she said, 

‘^Well, if he is a gentleman, I suppose we 
must allow him the privileges of one,’’ and ab- 
ruptly left the room. • 


CHAPTER XXII 


Will was walking up and down the portico 
that afternoon, smiling to himself, when Nellie 
came out and joined Mm. 

‘ ‘ I came out, seeing you all by your solitary ; 
but to judge from the smilingness of your coun- 
tenance, I perceive you have pleasant thoughts 
for company and I may be intruding, ^ ’ said she. 

‘^Perhaps the cause of my ^smilingness^ was 
that I had you in my thoughts,^’ he answered. 

‘ ^ I was just wishing you would come for a stroll 
down to the outer gate. The sun is almost set- 
ting, and the breeze is very refreshing. Will 
you come 

^^Mit grosstem Vergnugen/^ she laughed; 
and they started rather too briskly for his 
crutches. But, as they proceeded, she was 
pained to observe that his gait slackened, and 
he was walking with more difficulty than she 
had noticed since his return. His color, how- 
ever, was healthful, and his eyes bright. 

am afraid I shall have to leave Oaklands 
soon,’^ he remarked very unexpectedly, as they 
were approaching the gate. 

‘‘Why? I hope you are feeling no worse 
since you have been with us. ’ ’ 

“Oh, no. Physically, I feel better ; but your 
mother dislikes Weston so much, and has been 
treating him so coolly, that I fear he will not 
endure it much longer, and when he goes, I go. 


216 


STELLA HOPE 


She considers him very presumptuous ; do you 
think soV’ 

Nellie flushed deeply with shame. 

‘^No!^’ she answered emphatically, do 
not ; and it shames me inexpressibly to see him 
treated slightingly.’’ 

am glad to be able to tell you that hitherto 
it has concerned him very little; but recently, 
from a cause which I suspect, I observe that he 
is growing impatient of it ; and, as I have said, 
when he wishes to leave, we will go together. ’ ’ 

They had now reached the outer gate, and he 
was resting against it, breathing somewhat la- 
boredly. Nellie was silent. 

‘‘Do you think,” he asked, “that Stella would 
be making a mesalliance, or be sacrificing her- 
self in any way to marry Weston?” 

“Assuredly not, if she loves him. When 
heart answers to heart, and every requirement 
of one’s soul finds its complement in another, 
the outward or merely social feature is of minor 
importance. It would be sweet to share even 
poverty and misfortune with such an one.” 

Will’s eyes grew brighter as he listened, and 
looked into hers with mute but eager question- 
ing. 

“Ah!” he said after a pause of some seconds, 
“if all women thought as you, there would be 
more happy homes, and many waste-places of 
life would blossom as the rose. Could I but 
hope to win for my poor maimed self the price- 
less boon of such a love, the gloom which now 
envelops my future would all be dispelled, and 


STELLA HOPE 


217 


earth would become an Eden. But I am afraid 
no heart will ever beat the quicker for my halt- 
ing step.” 

The sun was setting in a crimson glory ; and 
when he turned his face to hers, as she too 
leaned against the gate, there was a glow — 
whether reflected or not — ^upon her cheek ; and, 
yes — he could not be mistaken — there were 
tears upon her down-cast lashes. 

A rush of feeling swept over him, and, bend- 
ing toward her, he quoted, 

“ ‘Lift up thine eyes; my doubts are dead, 

My haunting sense of hollow shows; 
«***«««** 

Look up; and let thy nature strike on mine; 

Lay thy sweet hand in mine, and trust to me.’ ” 

His soul was in his eyes; and she, looking 
up, read there the story of his hopes, fears and 
waiting. 

He held out his hands ; and, frank as Juliet, 
she placed her own within them. As he drew 
her to him, the sun dropped below the horizon, 
leaving its last rays resting upon them, like a 
benediction. 

Will had dropped his crutches and she now 
offered to pick them up. 

‘‘No, let them lie,” he said, smiling happily. 
‘ ‘ I shall need them no more. Love has wrought 
a miracle upon me. See ! ” he cried gaily, step- 
ping back from her and standing erect in proud 
happiness, “I am a living proof of the magic 
power of Love ! ’ ’ 

“What is it?” she exclaimed, awe-struck. 


218 


STELLA HOPE 


‘ ‘ Can yon really stand and walk without them — 
or — or have you been deceiving us since your 
return 

He came quickly back to her side, saying, 

‘Ht is both a miracle and a deception, dear- 
est; for without the hope of your love as a 
stimulus, I would never have submitted to the 
tortures I have undergone in the way of treat- 
ment. ’ ’ 

‘‘But how long have you been able to walk 
unassisted r’ she asked wonderingly. 

‘ ‘ Some months ago my physicians pro- 
nounced me able to do without my crutches. I 
could scarcely trust to the assertion, but I de- 
termined to make the attempt, and broke away 
from them. At first I could only hobble a little, 
but as I persisted I gained in strength. I did 
not wish to leave Europe until I was positively 
assured that I was permanently cured, so I re- 
mained some months longer abroad, traveling, 
though my heart was hungry for the sight of 
you. Then it occurred to me that it would be so 
sweet to hear from your own lips that you loved 
me in spite of deformity, that I have been pun- 
ishing myself for the last five days by resum- 
ing my crutches.’’ 

“You arch deceiver!” exclaimed Nellie, en- 
deavoring playfully to release her hand from 
his, but Will clasped it closer. 

“Forgive me, dear, and tell me if you do not 
love me better for being the physical peer of 
other men ? ’ ’ 

But Nellie’s loving blue eyes were now 


STELLA HOPE 


219 


streaming with blissful tears, and between 
laughing and sobbing she bid her face against 
his shoulder, declaring that nothing could ever 
make her love him better than she bad loved 
him for the three long years since bis infirmity 
bad first appealed to her. 

^‘Tben,’’ declared be, kissing away her 
tears, ^4f it was my infirmity, I have lost 
ground by being cured. I shall have to look 
out for another accident to reinstate myself, 
ebr' 

But she protested that nothing under the sun 
could have caused her such happiness as his 
complete restoration, and that she would never 
cease to thank Heaven for it. 

And so, with sweet interchange of tender sen- 
timents and Love’s badinage, they walk home 
in the gloaming. Will carrying the crutches 
under his arm. He was greeted with astonish- 
ment, but laughingly explained the miracle, to 
be overwhelmed with heart-felt congratulations 
from all the family. All were happy but for- 
saken Marie, who turned sadly away to sup- 
press a sigh of sorrow as she reflected upon the 
contrast of her future with that of tender- 
hearted, faithful Nellie. 

The engagement was discussed en famille the 
ensuing day. Will was urging an early mar- 
riage, to which he had won Nellie’s consent. 
Mrs. Haughton wept a little at the thought of 
resigning her chief counselor and comforter 
into the hands of another, but she wished her all 
the happiness she ^‘so well deserved,” and ex- 


220 


STELLA HOPE 


pressed the hope that Will would be able to 
make her ‘^entirely comfortable.’’ 

After all,” said she, drying her eyes philo- 
sophically, ‘‘marriage is but a lottery, and no 
one can know beforehand whether a girl is 
drawing a capital prize or a blank. There is 
Marie, who thought she was marrying a 
Croesus and Chesterfield in one, and see the re- 
sult. Ethel’s establishment in life will be a 
great care to me, since I am so encumbered with 
mortgages as scarcely to be able to pay the in- 
terest, and I am utterly unable to give her a 
chance to do anything for herself. It is hard 
to think that she will be the old maid of the fam- 
ily ; for her prospects are dwindling. ’ ’ And at 
the harrowing idea fresh tears coursed down 
her cheek. 

Nellie, in loving words, sought to comfort her 
mother. 

“Dear mama, don’t borrow trouble. Ethel 
shall not be your care alone. She must pass the 
coming winter with me in St. Louis. I know her 
beauty and accomplishments will make her for- 
tune there. She will now have the experience 
and wisdom to choose well. ’ ’ 

This promise of Nellie’s did more than any- 
thing else to win Mrs. Haughton’s consent to 
their early marriage. Will stipulated for Au- 
gust, pleading business engagements and every- 
thing else he could think of, saying that he 
wished to take his bride through Canada and 
the larger Northern cities before the weather 


STELLA HOPE 


221 


should become too cold. He carried his point, 
and for August the marriage was fixed. 

Nellie and Ethel immediately went otf to pur- 
chase the trousseau, and Will wandered around 
disconsolately till Nellie’s return, seeming to 
prefer solitude and his own meditations, a state 
highly gratifying to Weston; who now, unre- 
stricted by Mrs. Haughton, became Stella’s 
shadow, continually calling on her to walk, to 
ride, to play — anything that they might be to- 
gether. 

No word of love had yet passed Weston’s 
lips, for he did not wish to disturb her serenity 
until he felt himself on sure ground. He asked 
himself what this young girl, so recently eman- 
cipated from school, could know of powerful 
sentiments of the heart? He must give her 
time to know herself. He must wait, and watch, 
he must weigh every word, glance, blush, and 
inflection of voice. 

She was merry, often witty or brilliant ; and, 
better than all, spontaneous. She had now been 
too long from under her aunt’s domination not 
to be free and out-spoken. There was honesty 
and frankness in every lineament of her mirror- 
like face. He would know the proper moment 
to declare himself. 

That she highly esteemed him as a friend, and 
enjoyed his companionship, he could not doubt; 
but dare he ever hope for that deeper sentiment 
which, like the tranquil depths of the ocean, no 
tempest can disturb, no storm of adversity 
change, let the ever mobile surface vary as it 


222 


STELLA HOPE 


will; but for that immovable substratum upon 
which the foundation of wedded love must 
rest — might he dare hope to become the recip- 
ient of love like that? 


CHAPTER XXIII 


A few days after Stella’s return home, Wes- 
ton reminded her of her expressed wish to re- 
sume the study of the German language, sug- 
gesting that they read it together. 

shall be delighted. I suppose you speak 
it like ‘ein gehorner Deutscher/ ’’ she replied. 

‘‘Well, modesty forbids me to claim quite 
such proficiency, but I must be a dullard indeed 
if I cannot speak it pretty correctly. I have 
had much practice both at home and abroad. ’ ’ 

“How delightful ! I am ready to begin when- 
ever you are.” 

“Very well then; let us begin at once.” 

Accordingly she went and brought “Maria 
Stuart. ’ ’ 

“I was just at the beginning of the Fotherin- 
gay scenes when I left off. Lord Macaulay was 
of the opinion that Schiller wrote nothing 
finer,” she remarked. 

“I quite agree with him, if we except ^ Wal- 
lenstein^ s Tod/ 

‘ ‘ Oh, yes. My German teacher advised me to 
read that, if I read nothing else,” then added, 
“I am so fortunate to have you assist nae.” 

“I am the fortunate one,” he replied gal- 
lantly. 

“I have nothing but ‘Mary Stuart,’ though,” 
she said. 


224 


STELLA HOPE 


Never mind; I have the whole set,’^ provi- 
dent fellow that he was. 

‘ ‘ Shall we begin at the Fotheringay scenes ? ’ ’ 
Yes ; I had begun already to be interested. ” 
She opened the volume at random, and her 
eye fell upon the passage in which Elizabeth 
draws off her ring to present to the Duke of 
Anjou’s matrimonial ambassador, for his 
royal master, in which she remarks thought- 
fully, 

“Der Ring macht Ehen, 

Und Ringe sind^s die Kette machenJ’ 

Stella read it aloud, remarking laughingly, 
‘‘Oh! wise Elizabeth. Wedding rings assur- 
edly make chains; therefore, Mr. Weston, be- 
ware of wedding rings.” 

“Humph!” he replied, looking slightly dis- 
comfited, “if I had known the play contained 
such heresies, I would have burned it. ” 

They chose a quiet and shady spot on the 
lawn and read an hour, for a day or two, 
Stella’s interest ever deepening; but her feel- 
ings were the most deeply stirred at the passage 
where Mary, on her way to execution, encounters 
Leicester, and speaks to him with gentle re- 
proachfulness, 

“You keep your word, Earl Lester; you promised 
Me your arm to lead me out of this prison, and 
You lend it to me now. Yes, Lester, and not merely 
For freedom was I to thank your hand. 

You were to make that freedom dear to me. 

Upon your arm, made happy by your love. 

Was I to rejoice in the new life.” 


STELLA HOPE 


225 


At these words, so replete with human feel- 
ing, in which wronged love and forgiveness 
were commingled, some inward chord in Stella’s 
nature, acutely vibrant, stirred to a harrow- 
ing recollection, and she involuntarily turned 
to regard Weston, with a glance in which unut- 
terable things were spoken with the eye; for 
the buried Titan again writhed beneath the 
piled masses of Ossa on Pelion. 

With half an inkling of its meaning, he asked 
for an explanation, which naturally she refused 
to give. 

Next they read Wallenstein’s Tod, and she 
excited his jealousy by her ardent admiration 
of Max Picolomini, declaring him and Henry 
Esmond her ^‘especial favorites, next after my 
first love, the plus Aeneas, ’ ’ she laughed. 

^^What, after his desertion of Dido?” he 
asked. 

‘‘Ah, well,” she answered slowly and as he 
thought with significance, “all men are I sup- 
pose alike in that respect. Fickleness and in- 
constancy appear to be the general and inherent 
characteristics of your sex.” 

‘ ‘ That is entirely, too sweeping an assertion. 
Mein Fraulein/^ he replied gravely. “Your 
limited experience of life does not warrant you 
in making such a charge. Frequently it is only 
that appearances are against one. ’ ’ 

Did he have a suspicion of her meaning? At 
any rate, he took early occasion to revert to the 
time just before her departure for the convent 


14 


226 


STELLA HOPE 


and to explain the part Mrs. Hanghton had 
taken in that affair, as also to mention the letter 
that the Mother Superior had suppressed. In 
relating these circumstances he made no allu- 
sion to the state of his feelings toward her at 
that time except as of a very sincere friend and 
well-wisher; and she on her part only smiled 
in an inscrutable manner and changed the sub- 
ject. 

Thus they read much of Schiller, and during 
that time in which so many noble and sublime 
thoughts and sentiments were expressed, the in- 
terchange of opinion brought them into intimate 
acquaintance and revealed the mental processes 
of each in a manner which could not otherwise 
have been achieved. The result was much dis- 
cussion, much badinage with flash and retort, 
and occasionally clash. 

For one so young and inexperienced she ex- 
hibited remarkable penetration in the judgment 
of character and motive, and often astonished 
Weston by her acute intuitions and observa- 
tions, occasionally revealing a fund of phi- 
losophy, and even a touch of satire, keeping him 
at bay when he would have poured out his whole 
heart in a declaration of love. 

Let it not be supposed that Stella was either 
pedantic, or unduly dignified. Her delight in 
the little Florine was unbounded ; and when en- 
gaged in playful antics and romps with her the 
one appeared almost as much a child as the 
other. The little one soon became as much at- 
tached to this playmate as to nurse or mother. 


STELLA HOPE 


227 


and would hold out appealing hands when in 
the mood for a romp. Then Stella would seize 
her in her strong arms and toss her in the air, 
or roll her on the floor, towsling her^ curly 
golden hair for the mere pleasure of re-curling 
it afterward around the lovely little face. 

But the child’s greatest delight was to en- 
tangle her own little fingers in the abundant 
locks of her playmate, laughing and cooing, 
tangling and pulling, to her heart’s content. 

It was in such sport that Weston caught a 
glimpse of her one day, and the sight sent a 
warmer current to his heart. She raised her 
face, rosily flushed, in time to see him as 
he approached, and unconscious of her dis- 
heveled coiffure, held Florine out to him. 

‘Hsn’t she the most perfect picture?” she 
cried, looking at the little creature lovingly. 
^‘See if she will leave me for you.” 

He tried to entice the child away ; ^ but to 
Stella’s delight, she turned away, placing her 
arms around her playmate’s neck and laying 
her little warm cheek close to hers ; uttering a 
happy, cooing laugh. 

^‘Ah! little one, you are showing your taste 
early,” said Weston, patting the round cheek; 
and then he tried his arts in winning Stella 
away from the child. He succeeded at last by 
feigning despondency at the approaching mar- 
riage and loss of his life-long friend. 

^Wou know,” said he, ^Hhat a man is never 
the same to his bachelor friends after he is mar- 
ried, and I shall henceforth be a wandering. 


228 


STELLA HOPE 


melanclioly spirit, without home or kindred 
ties. ’ ’ 

‘^But you' will always be a valued guest with 
them,’^ she answered consolingly. 

‘‘Ah! no; the contrast between their happi- 
ness and my loneliness would be too great. ’ ^ 

‘ ‘ Then I would say, go thou and do likewise, ’ ’ 
she answered, laughing. 

“I can not win the regard of women, I fear. 
No, I will have to struggle along alone.’’ 

She was about to take up the cudgels in his 
own defense, when suddenly she checked her- 
self, paused a moment in embarrassment, and 
then said, 

“I understood you to say recently that you 
had some thoughts of taking up a profession. 
That will be sufficient to keep you from feeling 
utterly forlorn, will it not!” 

He shook his head in pretended mournful- 
ness, and looking her full in the face, replied 
with emphasis, 

“Without the guiding Star of Hope, I know 
that my efforts will be futile.” 

“That,” she replied, unobservant of his 
double intendre, “appears to me like a child 
refusing bread because it cannot have cake.” 

“I see you have no sympathy for my coming 
bereavement,” he answered reproachfully. 

“I do feel for you, really and truly; but you 
will he no more alone than I will, when I go 
away to carve out my fortune.” 

“I wish we might he somewhere near each 


STELLA HOPE 229 

other, to cheer and encourage,’’ he replied ten- 
tatively. 

‘‘I shall keep melancholy at bay by constant 
occupation,” was the disappointing answer. 
Then he tried another expedient. 

‘‘Come to the piano and teach me to play 
‘Away with melancholy.’ ” She laughingly fol- 
lowed, and took a seat by his side. At first his 
efforts were successful, but after a little there 
seemed to be retrogression instead of progress. 

“Use all your fingers. No one can hope to 
become an accomplished pianist with only one 
finger,” she said, laughing merrily at his awk- 
ward efforts. 

“I can’t manage them all at the same time; 
for when I put my thumb on one key, the little 
finger will slip off, and vice versa. Will you 
kindly hold my little finger on the keyboard 
while I give all my attention to the others!” 
he requested with all the appearance of earnest 
endeavor. 

She complied amusedly; and so long as she 
held down that finger, he succeeded admirably, 
but as soon as she let go he blundered again. 

“See,” he said, with a glance full of mean- 
ing, “how well I do when you are helping me! 
If I could have your assistance always some- 
thing might be made of me.” 

At this remark she showed some little con- 
sciousness, as was evidenced by the deepening 
of her color. For the first time, also, she 
caught sight of her disarranged hair in the mir- 
ror, and made that the pretext for going away. 


230 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘DonT go just yet/^ he pleaded, have a 
great favor to ask of you. ’ ’ 

‘^What is itr’ 

have taken a great fancy to that little 
stray ringlet that has escaped confinement near 
your ear. As I shall be going away before long, 
will you give it to me as a keep-sake P’ 

Certainly,’^ she replied in the most matter- 
of-fact way; and Weston again felt baffled. 
He wished her to regard the gift in the same 
light that he did. 

^‘Wait just a moment more,’’ he begged. 
‘^Please play ‘Consolation’ for me, and then I 
will take you to the most delightful fishing- 
place I have discovered. I have baited it, and 
the fish bite rapidly. There is a fallen log 
across the stream, and we need fear no snakes 
nor other reptiles.” 

She took up Mendelssohn’s “Lieder” for the 
first time since her return from school, and 
opened the volume. As she did so, a bank note 
fell from it on the key-board. 

In much surprise, she took it up. 

“What can it mean?” she said, looking at 
Weston. 

“Perhaps a sprinkling of nuggets to make 
you dig deeper in the mine of music,” he sug- 
gested. 

She now shook the book and several more 
fell out. 

“This grows interesting,” remarked Weston, 
“are there more?” But no more were found. 

“I think I can explain it,” said she. “The 


ISTELLA HOPE 


231 


Mother always returns moneys of the girls left 
over on the expense account. She put this here 
where she knew I would find it.’’ 
see,” replied Weston. 

Don’t you think,” he continued, ‘‘that by 
taking another lesson on ‘Away With Melan- 
choly’ to-morrow I can get it by ear?” 

“I think it sounds as if you had it by both 
ears already,” she replied, as she ran laugh- 
ingly out of the room. 

Soon she returned to go with him fishing. He 
was waiting on the portico. 

“Where is the tackle?” she asked. 

“Oh yes, the tackle. I had forgotten its es- 
sentiality,” with a quizzical expression. But 
he went and brought it. 

When they had fished some time unsuccess- 
fully, she remarked. 

“They will not bite; we may as well go 
home. ’ ’ 

“Oh, you don’t know the disposition of fishes. 
They have to be coaxed, and it takes just half 
an hour.” 

“How absurd!” she laughed. 

“I can tell you a plan, though, to make them 
bite in five minutes. ’ ’ 

“How?” she asked with interest. 

“By naming them.” 

“Naming them?” 

“Yes; you name some person you like for 
your catch, and I will name mine.” 

“Well, then, I will name mine Cousin Nel- 
lie.” 


232 


STELLA HOPE 


“PidiculoTis ! the person must be of the op- 
posite sex.’’ 

will name it Cousin Will then.” 

‘^No engaged person is eligible. I intend to 
name you and I think I am entitled to a return 
of the compliment.” 

‘Wery well, then, here goes.” 

Weston took out his watch solemnly. In just 
three minutes he drew up a small fish. Stella 
had a nibble, and drew up her line with such 
a jerk as to entangle the line in the overhang- 
ing bough of a tree. 

^^Hang it!” began Weston, and then both 
laughed, for the fish remained suspended. 

‘‘A too speedy execution of sentence. Judge 
Lynch ; I insist on the rescue of the prisoner. ’ ’ 

They chatted, laughed, and fished until 
Stella suddenly perceived that the sun was al- 
most setting. 

^‘Come; we will be late, and Aunt Kate will 
not like it,” she said. 

‘‘But the twilight is long,” he urged. 

She insisted, however, on going, and he rose 
to assist her along the log. 

Now that log had been perfectly stable when 
they had walked it first. Why it should roll 
now was mysterious, and to such a degree that 
as she approached the bank Stella would have 
been precipitated into the water if Weston had 
not caught her, and when, all blushes, she 
thanked him, he assured her that she was most 
welcome. 

As they were crossing the bridge, he said, 


STELLA HOPE 233 

‘‘Let us watch the sunset reflected in the wa- 
ter. ’ ’ 

Stella rested against the railing, looking 
down at a point where the stream was very 
placid. 

“I never stand thus looking down into still 
water that I do not recall my childish impres- 
sions, when after a heavy rain I would go out 
and stand on the brink of some newly made pool 
and gaze down toward the reflected skies be- 
low, fearing to lean too far over, lest I should 
fall miles and miles down into those pellucid 
depths, yet fascinated by that strange, unknown 
under- wo rid. Did you ever do the like?” she 
inquired. 

“No,” he replied, gazing earnestly upon her 
face. “But if I might take you along with me 
now I would be wdlling to make the plunge to 
almost any unknown region. Could you be per- 
suaded to take the leap with me?” 

“Halloa!” cried Will, as he and Nellie 
turned the corner at that moment, much to Wes- 
ton’s chagrin; for he had never felt less de- 
sirous of his friend’s company. Nellie looked 
at Stella’s deepened color and smiled. 

“Have you been fishing?” she asked. 

“Yes; don’t you see the trophy?” asked 
Weston, holding up the little fish he had first 
caught. 

“Oh!” laughed Nellie, “if you are so fond 
of fish as that, I must take you all to-morrow to 
a splendid place for catching mountain trout. 
It is right up there at the cascades, not more 


234 


STELLA HOPE 


than ten miles from here. The ascent is a little 
bit arduous, but we can ride on mules nearly the 
whole way. What say you all P ’ but she looked 
somewhat anxiously at Will, as if fearing it 
might be too much for him. 

But all three declared they would like 
nothing better, so the excursion being decided 
upon and an early start arranged, they walked 
homeward through the gloaming. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


The party of four started off after a very 
early breakfast, in high spirits. To the foot 
of the mountain, a distance of eight miles, they 
went in the carriage, and there it was to await 
their return in the afternoon; but four strong 
saddle mules were led to that point by Uncle 
Ben’s two younger sons, who were to accom- 
pany the party to be of service in attending to 
the mules and in preparing the trout the fishers 
were to catch; for it had been decided there 
was to be no dinner till a sufficient number of 
trout had been landed to have a ‘‘fry.” 

The drive along a green and flowery valley 
was delightful in the cool of the early morning. 
Here and there meandered clear streams, in 
which numerous small fishes were disporting 
themselves in joyous security and imagined 
perpetuity of the blessings of finny existence; 
but higher up, on the mountain, whence the 
“cascades” leaped and tumbled, the trout, 
from frequent invasions of their demesnes, had 
learned to be wary; and at the approach of a 
footstep, whether of man or beast, would dart 
under the shadows of protecting rocks and 
snags, peering out cautiously, so that the still 
more wary angler was fain to possess his soul 
in patience. 

At the steeper portions of the ascent, — no- 
where very considerable, — Nellie, fearing lest 


236 


STELLA HOPE 


the mule might stumble with Will and perhaps 
injure him, insisted on his going a-foot as she 
also did; both aiding their efforts by holding 
to the mane of the mules, Will protesting there 
was no danger in riding, and she declaring 
there might be. 

Weston and Stella laughingly refused to 
walk, since they each had a beast of burden to 
perform that office for them. Consequently, 
they made much more rapid progress, and soon 
were nearing the falls, when perceiving that 
these same beasts of burden were giving evi- 
dences of undue fatigue, they drew rein under 
a chestnut tree at the log cabin of a mountaineer 
and proceeded to water the thirsty animals at a 
small stream that trickled into a pool just out- 
side the rail fence that enclosed the yard. 

Only a very wrinkled old woman, seated on a 
wooden bench near the door, and a half-grown 
girl were visible. 

The old woman rose and hobbled toward 
them ; when taking a rustic seat under the tree 
she accosted them thus, 

‘We he’s husbent and wife, I calculates,” re- 
garding them with eyes that yet looked piercing 
under a blue calico sun-bonnet. 

“Not yet, but soon to be, I hope,” answered 
Weston, boldly glancing at Stella, who red- 
dened a little. 

“Is that so, now? I s’pected ye was sweet- 
hearts ef ye wasn’t already married. When’s 
ye calc’lating ter jine fo’ces?” she asked with 
a cunning grin that showed toothless gums. 


STELLA HOPE 


237 


Before Weston, whom Stella perceived to be 
enjoying the situation, could reply, she an- 
swered quickly, 

^^The time is not exactly set yet awhile, 
grandmother, but I think that I will wait till my 
reincarnation, several thousand years hence. ’ ’ 

^^Yi, yi,’’ cackled the old woman, not under- 
standing her meaning, don’t you be sheared, 
honey,” — to Weston — ^‘she’ll come ’round 
afore the winter. These young gals all ’mind 
me o’ our pippins as hang so high in the sum- 
mer-time. The wind blows so soft, and is 
a-courtin ’ and a-courtin ’ uv ’em fur weeks and 
weeks, but the mo’ the wind blow, the mo’ dem 
apples tosses disdainful on de bough, but a mel- 
lowin’ all de time, and gettin’ purtier. You 
looks mighty dollified and court able now. Miss, 
but de time’s cornin’ when you mus’ choose 
’atween yer two beaux — de summer wind and 
Jack Frost. All de young folks as is goin’ ter 
git married orter marry afo’ de cold winter 
comes.” 

^‘What about those that don’t want to get 
married at all?” asked Stella, more with the 
intention of interrupting her than hearing any- 
thing she might have to say. 

^‘Dey as don’t marry ’minds me uv dem sour 
crab-apples. Dey wouldn’ listen to no per- 
suadin’, but tossed dey heads higher ’n all, and 
’lowed dey would n’ drap for nobody; so dey 
stayed on de bough, and jes’ dried up. Dey is 
de old maids. So git married. Miss, and git 
married befo’ de cold winter comes.” 


238 


STELLA HOPE 


When the old woman finally came to a halt, 
Stella was crimson, and Weston, though laugh- 
ing heartily, was blushing too. She drew her 
bridle and made a move to go, but he, thinking 
the old crone’s advice valuable, proposed to 
wait awhile longer for their two companions. 

^^Can you tell fortunes, grandmother P ’ he 
asked. 

‘‘Yas, in coffee grounds for a dime,” she an- 
swered promptly. 

^‘Then let us hear,” he said to Stella. 

^^No; I don’t care for mine to be told,” she 
replied, but Weston insisted, ‘‘just for the fun 
of the thing,” and the old woman, with an eye 
peeled for gain, quickly dispatched her grand- 
daughter for the “grounds.” Having received 
the cup, the old woman felt on the top of her 
head for her “specs” and poured out the coffee 
grounds on a piece of plank for plainer reading. 
She turned to Weston. 

‘ ‘ The lady, first, ’ ’ said he. 

Had it been less foolish, Stella would have 
demurred; but as it appeared to entertain Wes- 
ton she 'remained silent. Then the old woman 
looked at her searchingly for fully ten seconds 
before remarking, 

“She is one uv de kind as takes a pow’ful 
wind ter blow her otf’n de tree. She’s got ter 
see mighty plain whar she’s gwine ter drap. 
’Tain’t ’cause she’s too skittish, but ’cause 
she’s too notiony.” Then addressing Stella 
directly, she continued, 

“You’s goin’ ter have good luck and bad 


STELLA HOPE 


239 


luck, — lots uv it, — ^but de good luck’ll last 
longest, mebbe. You’s gwine ter” — shifting the 
grounds — ^ Lyon’s gwine ter be ill; but you’ll 
rise up agin and light out whar you nuver 
spected ter go. Dar you’ll stay and sutfer, and 
be sorry, mebbe; but — ” 

^^‘Oh! come, will you? I’ve heard enough of 
this rigmarole, ’ ’ exclaimed Stella, very dis- 
agreeably impressed, in spite of her vaunted in- 
credulity. And she struck the innocent mule 
sharply with her whip and hastened away, leav- 
ing her escort to follow at his pleasure. 

He, laughing at her evident discomfiture, cast 
a coin into the lap of the old woman and has- 
tened after Stella, whom he overtook just as 
Nellie and Will came up. 

They had soon ascended to the cascades, and 
a really beautiful scene they beheld, well worth 
in itself the long and hot ride. The mountain 
was here very rough and broken, with huge 
boulders piled all around, and fine trees up to 
the very summit, leaving here and there several 
vistas opening upon a magnificent extent of 
country. To Nellie and Stella, neither of whom 
had ever traveled to any extent, these views ex- 
cited great delight; and even Will and Weston, 
who had visited most of the picturesque won- 
ders of the Old World, admitted that the view 
from a certain point was very fine. 

But the trip had consumed more time than 
they had expected, and as there was to be no 
dinner without the trout they all decided that, 
considering the patience to be exercised in trout- 


240 


STELLA HOPE 


fishing, it would be better to defer further ad- 
miration of the scenery until after dinner, when, 
they all declared, they might be in a better 
frame to do justice to its beauties. 

Will and Nellie were satisfied to take their 
position a little below the lower fall, but Weston 
whispered to Stella that he knew enough of 
trout-fishing to feel assured that they could be 
better caught higher up between the first and 
second falls. Consequently, the former couple 
had a fine two-pounder before the latter had set- 
tled down to work. 

Will wished to convey a message of his good 
luck, but the colored boys were at some distance 
with the mules, and he did not wish to shout for 
fear of frightening all the trout away. 

' ‘ I will go and tell them ; and in an hour per- 
haps 1 may be able to bring you intelligence that 
enough have been caught for our ^fry,’ ’’ said 
Nellie, demurely, well suspecting what the an- 
swer would be. 

Will only looked at her, smiling, a moment, 
and then said, 

‘ ‘ Do go ; there ’s a good child, and let me fish 
in silence. I promise to have several by the 
time you return.” 

Then Nellie pouted, and really half hurt, de- 
clared she ’d stay and chatter all the while just 
to punish him ; at which Will laid aside his rod 
for a full minute to make his amende^ which 
being entirely satisfactory, they angled to- 
gether very amicably. 

Weston proved not so successful as his friend. 


STELLA HOPE 


241 


who had caught two before he himself had 
caught his first. The fact was, he was too busy 
angling in another direction to pay sufficient 
attention to the finny denizens of the stream; 
but Stella, he found, was far more wary than 
they and successfully baffied every effort to 
bring her to land or even to regard the bait. 
Amid the deeps or shallows of their conversa- 
tion she contrived always to evade the subject 
nearest his heart, and when he had highest 
hopes that she was about, metaphorically, ^‘to 
take the fiy’’ she would dart away in a manner 
sufficiently tantalizing to vex a much more 
saintly wooer. 

He was soon forced to perceive that the time 
still was not yet ripe for direct declaration ; for 
he felt intuitively that the result of a too pre- 
cipitate offer of his hand would elicit only a 
direct refusal. Therefore, in every possible 
way he had endeavored, tentatively, to signify 
to her the state of his affections and hopes with- 
out giving her a chance to refuse him unequivo- 
cally. But Stella, proving deaf and purblind to 
all hints, and affecting to misunderstand every 
intimation, he lost patience at last, and turned 
moodily to the obvious business in hand — the 
trout-fishing. 

Under such circumstances, it was no wonder 
that at last Will shouted to them to come on, 
since he and Nellie had caught enough for din- 
ner; for, in addition to three he had himself 


15 


242 


STELLA HOPE 


caught, Nellie had safely and triumphantly 
landed a one-and-a-half pounder. 

‘^You must blame Miss Stella for the fail- 
ure,’’ declared Weston. ‘‘She kept up such a 
scintillation of verbal pyrotechnics that even at 
midday she put the sun to shame and drove the 
trout to the shadows of the rocks. ’ ’ 

“And ‘Jura answered back to Jura,’ ” she 
retorted. 

“Shall I tell them what good advice the old 
woman of the hut gave you this morning I” 
asked Weston, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. 

“If you dare!’’ she cried. 

“Let’s have it, by all means,” they exclaimed. 

“Certainly. It was intended for you, too.” 

“Then out with it, if it’s common property,” 
said Nellie. 

Weston affected to make a relation of it. 

“She advised that — ” ^ 

“If you tell it. I’ll not speak to you for a 
week!” declared Stella vehemently, blushing 
furiously. 

“Ah! well then, friends, under threat of such 
a heavy^ penalty you must excuse me; I das n’t 
tell.” For which he received a grateful look 
that was some compensation for her elusiveness 
of the morning. 

Dinner over, the question was whether to 
continue the angling for a while, in order to 
take a mess home to show that home-folks had 
not been forgotten, or to begin at once their re- 
turn, seeing there was a cloud, ‘no bigger than 
a man’s hand,’ it is true, rising in the west. It 


STELLA HOPE 


243 


was decided to continue the fishing, and soon all 
together were intensely interested; for having 
sought a new place, Stella and Will both 
brought to land a trout each of satisfactory pro- 
portions. 

‘^1 see that I am the Jonah,” whispered Wes- 
ton ; so he went a little farther up stream, fast- 
ened on a fly of most attractive appearance, and 
lying flat upon the ground out of sight, trailed 
his bait swiftly up the current, and waited. He 
did not have to wait long; for a splendid fellow 
immediately sailed out from the shadow of a 
large rock and made a dash for the fly. 

Alas, for the rash one ! Recognizing instantly 
his error. Sir Trout turned quickly and sped 
away for his shadowy refuge, but never reached 
it. The line grew taut, and the struggle began. 
All stopped to watch, the interest increasing 
each moment, until finally the flashing and flop- 
ping creature lay gasping on the bank at a safe 
distance from a leap back into the stream. 

Goodness me! look at the sky,” suddenly 
exclaimed Nellie in consternation; and indeed, 
so engrossed had they all been that no notice 
had been taken of the threatening aspect of the 
weather. The erstwhile small cloud had almost 
miraculously expanded and blackened until it 
covered nearly all of the visible sky with a pall, 
and a strong wind was springing up, hurrying 
the dark masses of cloud along with fearful 
rapidity. 

Fortunately, the colored boys had been more 
observant than themselves, and the mules, al- 


244 


STELLA HOPE 


ready saddled, stood ready near at hand. At a 
speed far from safe they all hurried down the 
mountain-side in order to reach the hut where 
Stella and Weston had paused in the forenoon. 

It was well that they reached it in time, for 
instantly such a storm broke loose as was rarely 
seen. The wind raged with almost cyclonic 
fury ; the rain fell in a deluge ; while incessant 
flashes of lightning lit up the whole mountain- 
side with a fierce glare, and all ‘ ^ the artillery of 
heaven’’ appeared to be in continuous action. 
Amid the general awe and detonations no word 
was spoken, for none could have been heard. 

Fortunately, the storm, though of unusual 
violence, was of rather short duration; and a 
few minutes after the rain ceased, the clouds 
parted, and the sun shone out in fitful splendor. 
Soon, however, the wind whisked the clouds 
away; and Stella, seeing the old woman’s 
mouth opening to speak, proposed starting 
homeward without delay. 

^‘Do set a hit, young-uns, and let me tell the 
furchens of this other pa’r,” urged the crone, 
remembering the generous coin Weston had be- 
stowed upon her, and thinking to make a profit- 
able day of it. 

^‘No, no!” cried Stella impatiently, ‘‘the 
storm may return this way. ’ ’ 

“And you wants to ketch it, eh!” cackled she 
of the wrinkles, with a malicious grin. You’d 
better set a little longer any way, and let me 
talk to you a bit. The winter’s cornin’ bime- 
by— ” 


STELLA HOPE 


245 


But Stella waited to hear no more. She fled 
in dastardly cowardice from the old crone’s 
tongue ; and when the other three followed her, 
laughing, she was already mounted, and going 
rapidly down the mountain. 

The storm rolled away down the valley in ad- 
vance of them, leaving in its track many a trace 
of its fury in the shape of broken and up-rooi:ed 
trees ; but in good time they reached Oaklands, 
bringing their trout with them. 


CHAPTER XXV 


A few afternoons later Stella took her easel 
and paints out to a shady spot on the lawn to 
paint a scene from a corner which she especially 
admired. 

Weston had pleaded for another ‘‘music les- 
son/^ but she had laughingly declined — 

“No, no; you are proficient already, as Mark 
Twain ^s Arkansas girl, at her second rendition 
of ‘The Battle of Prague,’ was perfect — in a 
backward direction,” adding, “I must paint 
this picture to remind me of Oaklands when I 
shall be far away.” 

‘ ‘ Then let me help you paint it. ’ ’ 

“What! a composite production of genius?’ 

“Yes,” he laughed, “just as David Copper- 
field’s book was a joint production by himself 
and Dora. I will hold the brushes for you,” 
which he did, waiting patiently beside her, now 
and then making some suggestions, asking some 
absurd question, or uttering some droll criti- 
cism, while occasionally he would say something 
so apposite as to convince her that he knew 
more of the art than he acknowledged. 

Finally, he said, 

“Don’t you think it time to stop now for a 
walk? It will he too late if you wait longer.” 

“I have to write a letter to the Mother Supe- 
rior of Santa Maria this afternoon,” she ob- 
jected. 


STELLA HOPE 


247 


‘‘Oh! that can wait till to-morrow. We have 
just enough time to go and return before sun- 
set.’^ 

“Very well; and as you have already been 
so helpful, I will allow you to take in the easel. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Humph ! I had hoped to take in the artist. ’ ’ 
“The artist will never allow herself to be 
taken she retorted, laughing gaily. 

When they were starting out for the walk, he 
turned in a new direction. 

“Where are you going she asked. 

‘ ‘ To Chinquapin Bottom, to see what are the 
prospects for the autumn crop.^’ 

“How will that knowledge affect you? Both 
you and myself will be far away. ’ ’ 

“Where will either of us be?’’ he asked, earn- 
estly regarding her. 

“Where, indeed? To me everything is so un- 
certain that it is difficult to forecast. ’ ’ 

“But you cannot go away without some plan. 
That would not be like yourself, ’ ’ he answered, 
perplexed. 

“My plans are not perfected; therefore I will 
wait till they are so before announcing them. ’ ’ 
The conversation took a rather sombre turn, 
until, perceiving the trend, he turned it into a 
lighter channel, as pointing toward the little 
stream he remarked. 

“Down there in that small green meadow I 
first heard the sound of your voice, and beheld 
you as, surrounded by your dusky fauns and 
satyrs, you enacted the role of wood-nymph. Did 
you ever discover that it was I who so rudely 


248 


STELLA HOPE 


crashed down among yon and scattered you all 
like partridges before the hunter!^’ 

‘‘Was it you, really she cried. “I never 
suspected it. And where is my poor old banjo 1 ’ ’ 
she asked suddenly. 

“Oh! I kept it as my only trophy of that 
morning ^s sport, he answered, laughing. 

“And that is why you presented me with a 
new oneP’ 

“Yes; exchange is no robbery, you know.’^ 

‘ ‘ Certainly I was no loser by the transaction ; 
but Aunt Kate would have had a much more 
difficult task in getting me to appear in your 
august presence if I had known. 

“But for that little incident I should never 
have known your real self, perhaps,’’ he con- 
tinued. 

“You think you know me now, do you?” she 
asked, looking at him and smiling. 

“Yes, though you have changed much since 
then.” 

“For better or worse?” 

“I can’t tell until our present interview is 
over. Let us sit down here on this log and talk 
over that time, so far away, yet so recent in 
years. ’ ’ 

He made place for her ; but a sudden shrink- 
ing seized her, an almost uncontrollable impulse 
to turn and flee. 

“Sit down, please; I have something to say 
to you,” and he caught her hand, drawing her 
down compellingly beside him. 

She turned toward him with a forced laugh 


STELLA HOPE 


249 


and an effort to speak jestingly; but there was 
on his face an expression so masterful that the 
words died on her lips. 

‘‘Stella/’ he said resolutely, “do you not 
guess why I have brought you to this spot I Do 
you remember a question I asked you here three 
years ago!” 

He paused, but there was no response, and he 
went on, 

“It was no doubt premature and imprudent 
to ask such a question of so young a girl, almost 
a child in heart — ^but I was in earnest then and 
in more deadly earnest now, since the lovable 
child has developed into the adorable woman. 
From that time I have never ceased to bear 
your image in my heart, and to look forward to 
the day when here, in this very spot, I might, in 
all honor and fairness, renew that question. On 
your graduating eve, unseen myself, I saw you, 
and my eyes were dazzled by the rich fulfill- 
ment of your early promise. Suddenly there 
rushed into my heart the crushing fear lest you 
had outgrown even the remembrance of that 
other hour and of myself. Was it so?” 

Again he paused for some word or sign from 
her ; but she sat motionless, pale and trembling. 
It was the first declaration of love to which she 
had ever listened, save that question he had 
here asked her when they had been interrupted, 
and to which there had been afterward no re- 
verting. 

And he, — ^whom in her childish ignorance she 
had deemed hero, “fit for song and story,” — did 


250 


STELLA HOPE 


he now when placed before the knightly mirror 
give back a true or dubious reflection! How 
could she know! 

Weston could see from her pale cheek and 
trembling lip how much' she was agitated, and a 
great fear took possession of him. 

Anxiously he bent his head to look into her 
half-averted face, and in tender pity for her 
trepidation he took her cold fingers in his own 
and pressed them firmly. 

^‘What is it, Stella! Have I too rudely 
broken to you the story of my long-cherished 
hopes! If you are unprepared to answer now, 
I will wait ; though Heaven knows how weary of 
waiting I am. Only do not forbid all hope, for I 
cannot, I ivill not relinquish that.’’ 

Once more he paused for her to speak. She 
drew a deep breath as if to relieve her laboring 
heart, then summoning courage, turned and 
looked at him with a glance in which a world of 
mingled feeling seemed struggling. 

scarcely know how to phrase what I would 
wish to say to you,” she murmured, ‘^but I will 
at least endeavor to be just to you, in explaining 
my sentiments in so far as I understand them 
myself. ’ ’ She paused to gather composure, and 
then went on, 

‘‘Since that day, when you unintentionally 
killed my pet and we together buried poor Dido ; 
when you spoke so kindly and sympathetically 
to me, — as I had not been spoken to since my 
father’s death, — ^you took to me the place of an 
elder brother. You alone understood me ; you 


STELLA HOPE 


251 


alone saw that I was isolated and ill at ease in 
my annt’s home. You may possibly remember 
that Sunday at the country church and the 
storm that burst upon us on our return. You 
may remember how gloriously the sunshine 
broke, after the storm, over the rejoicing land- 
scape. Such a change had come into my life, 
and a revelation as of a new world descended 
upon me in the few weeks following. Then came 
Eita; and when you became suddenly cold and 
distant to me, when I saw you bending to her, 
to catch every whisper and smile, when I heard 
you sing to her, calling her your ‘ Star of Hope, ’ 
never turning to look at the credulous girl 
whose heart was breaking — that heart seemed 
to die, and life ceased for a while to hold any 
beauty and joy. You have recently told me the 
cause, but oh! the time was so long! Then 
when I was suddenly snatched away and sent 
otf to school I endeavored to banish all thought 
of you, and after a while only ambition seemed 
to hold sway and to urge me on toward that 
ideal of feminine excellence which you had held 
up to me. When I carried otf the first honors 
of the school for a few hours I deemed myself 
happy; hut the thought of my disappointed 
competitor arose to mar my happiness, bring- 
ing with it a strange misgiving which haunted 
me all that night, and haunts me still. 

‘‘When I saw you I felt as if there were a 
protecting power near me to ward otf trouble, 
and I was able to rejoice in your friendship 
again. Since then I have recovered my natural 


252 STELLA HOPE 

self, except now and then, when I have spells of 
misgiving. 

‘‘A few afternoons ago, as we stood on the 
bridge, if yon had told me then what yon have 
told me now, I think I might have been less dis- 
conraging. Bnt jnst now, when yon began to 
speak, an iron hand seemed clntching my heart, 
stilling its beating and feeling. Again, that 
awfnl sense of impending misfortnne overpow- 
ered me. Oh! Mr. Weston, ivhat is \iV^ and 
with a strong shndder she bnried her face in her 
hands. 

Weston, inexpressibly shocked by this sndden 
seiznre, conld only attempt to soothe her by 
endearing words. 

‘‘My own darling!^’ he cried, imprisoning 
both her hands in his. “Let me indeed be to 
yon a protecting power. Come to my heart in- 
deed, and with my life I will protect you from 
harm. Bnt this presentiment of evil can pro- 
ceed only from overwork and strained nerves. 
Marry me, dearest, when Will and Nellie are 
married, and I will at once take yon abroad. In 
the art-treasnres of Old-World galleries your 
artistic soul shall revel in all that is beautiful 
and attractive. Forget these nervous fancies. 
Beneath Italian skies we will float upon the 
waters of the Neapolitan bay, or, shaded by the 
silk curtains of our gondola, we will thread the 
watery ways of Venice. Upon snow-capped Al- 
pine heights we will see fair lands spread out 
like pictures far beneath us, or sail by moon- 


STELLA HOPE 


253 


light down the blue waters of the Danube and 
past the ruined castles of the Rhine.’’ 

He paused, for Stella was regarding him with 
wide eyes of amazement. 

^‘Are we both laboring under some myster- 
ious ^ W ahnsinn^ ^ she asked, smiling with 
deep sadness at his extravagant promises. 

Recalled to reality from his aerial flight, he 
too smiled and answered, 

‘‘You perhaps think me visionary and irre- 
sponsible ; but only give me the privilege of liv- 
ing for you, and no difficulties shall daunt, no 
heights be inaccessible.” 

“No, my dear friend, I am too inexperienced, 
too untried in the problems of life to promise 
anything now. Let me go away and battle with 
the stern realities, and learn to know myself.” 

“And is this the utmost you can promise? 
Must I starve on this little crumb of hope ? ” he 
asked in bitterest disappointment. 

“This is absolutely all that I can promise 
now. ’ ’ 

The sun’s red disk had suddenly been cut in 
twain by a black bar of cloud. Weston silently 
watched it until the whole orb had sunk below 
the bar and seemed resting on the verge of the 
distant horizon. Then without a word he rose, 
and both still silent, they turned their faces 
homeward. 

Her heart was inexpressibly pained at sight 
of his dejection, and on the homeward way she 
endeavored to divert him by lighter talk, but he 
replied mostly in monosyllables. 


254 


STELLA HOPE 


When they entered the hall it was quite dusk, 
but still light enough for her to perceive a letter 
for her lying on a table. She took it up. 

letter for me! By the number of post- 
marks it must have traveled over half the 
United States. I will go up and read it before 
tea.’^ 

She ascended several steps and then paused, 
looked back at Weston, and sighed. She saw 
the hopelessness of his attitude and the uncon- 
scious wistfulness of his whole expression. Her 
heart melted at sight of it and something long 
dormant awoke in her breast. Her heart gave 
a great bound, stirred to sudden life, and a tide 
of that early love, increasing with the years, 
swept overwhelmingly athwart her being. 

She returned to him. The semi-light was still 
strong enough for him to read the love-light in 
her luminous eyes. 

^‘Believe me,^’ she whispered, am not in- 
sensible to the priceless gift of a generous and 
constant love. Perhaps — ’’ 

He waited to hear no more. He had read the 
message of hope in her eyes, and in a great 
rush of exultant feeling he had caught her to 
his heart. 

‘ ^ Some one is coming, ’ ’ she whispered, strug- 
gling to release herself from those strong de- 
taining arms; and she sprang away, and ran 
laughing softly up the stair. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


Twice had the tea-bell been rung, and yet 
Stella, usually so punctual, had not appeared. 
Mrs. Haughton dispatched Queenie, the wait- 
ress, to summon her. 

A few minutes later every one was much 
startled by loud outcries ; and the woman, ter- 
rified, came half tumbling down the steps. 

She’s dead; Miss Stella’s dead!^’ she 
shrieked, over and over. 

A simultaneous rush was made for the stair- 
case, only Weston and Will remaining at the 
foot, where they awaited explanation of the 
alarm, the few minutes of suspense which fol- 
lowed appearing to Weston as a century. 

Then Nellie came down weeping, and told 
them that Stella had been found prone upon the 
floor of her room, to all appearances lifeless; 
but that since then she had opened her eyes, 
only to go off again into another swoon. 

The horror and dismay of Weston were 
pitiable. Will grasped his hand and tried to 
utter comforting words, for Weston had already 
told him of his happiness. 

In a short while Dr. Murray appeared. Stella 
had recovered consciousness only sufficient to 
look into the physician’s face, with the most 
piteous expression he had ever beheld on human 
countenance. Then she fainted again. 

To his inquiries as to her previous state of 


256 


STELLA HOPE 


health and spirits there appeared no reasonable 
explanation of the collapse. The only response 
to questioning of the patient was strong shnd- 
derings and inarticulate moans, so that the doc- 
tor was forced to conclude that she could not 
comprehend the import of his questions. 

When he learned that she had been well 
enough to take a walk with Weston at sunset he 
immediately sought out the latter. Weston 
made no concealment of anything that had 
transpired between Stella and himself that af- 
ternoon, telling of her strange seizure after he 
had declared his love, and he especially en- 
lightened the physician as to her long and unre- 
mitting course of study. 

^^Ah!’’ exclaimed Dr. Murray, with a few 
lurid objurgations upon female schools in gen- 
eral, ^ ^ that explains the whole matter. It is due 
to mental strain — too frequently the case. I ap- 
preciate, my dear sir, your feelings and am 
sorry to say anything discouraging; but in the 
present case the greatest quiet and care must 
be secured, or very serious results may follow. 
The young lady is threatened with brain fever ’ ’ 

‘‘Do you consider that her life is in much 
danger asked Weston. 

Dr. Murray placed his hand on the young 
man^s shoulder. 

“I always make it a rule to be truthful in such 
cases. As I have said, the utmost caution for a 
few days is absolutely necessary. Her life, 
even, may be in danger for a few days, and after 
that her mind may temporarily fail.’’ 


STELLA HOPE 


257 


God! and am I the cause P’ he moaned, 
his face grown white and drawn. His words 
had deeper meaning than the physician sus- 
pected, and he leaned heavily against the wall. 

‘‘No, no, my dear young friend; do not blame 
yourself in the least. It would have occurred in 
a very few days anyhow ; but will you attend at 
once to having a nurse summoned P’ and he 
gave the address of one. Weston hurried out 
and sent the telegram. 

The doctor had diagnosed his case logically; 
but if he had read the letter which had floated 
under the bed when Stella fell, and which 
Queenie swept up and burned with the trash 
next morning, he would have been enlightened. 
Nevertheless, he had not exaggerated the young 
girl’s danger. 

As the night wore on Hr. Murray reported lit- 
tle change in the patient’s condition. She was 
still lethargic, with occasional mutterings of de- 
lirium, and he determined to remain till the 
nurse should arrive. 

And Weston, too utterly wretched to think of 
retiring, or even remaining in his room, paced 
the hall or portico through the long night, fre- 
quently inquiring about Stella’s condition as 
the doctor or some member of the family ap- 
peared. 

The dull gray of the early morning found him 
with head bowed upon the window-sill of the 
sitting-room, till the joyous chorus of the awak- 
ening birds sent him sadly to his own room. 

i6 


258 


STELLA HOPE 


A silent, fervent hand-clasp was Will’s morn- 
ing greeting, and the gathering at the breakfast 
table wias a sad one. 

There was a great lifting of responsibility 
when the nnrse came and at once took her place 
beside the sick girl. 

Several days passed uneventfully; but the 
patient did not yield to treatment as the doctor 
had hoped. In her delirium one oft-repeated 
name puzzled him. ‘^Mauna Loa,” ^^Mauna 
Loa,” uttered sometimes entreatingly, some- 
times in wildest agony. 

Dr. Murray mentioned this to Weston, asking 
if he could enlighten him. 

^‘Why should the name of a Hawaiian vol- 
cano have taken such possession of her mind!” 
he asked. Weston explained that it was the 
sobriquet of her rival. 

^‘Ah! that school business!” and he 

shook his head savagely. 

It was well, indeed, that a professional nurse 
had been summoned; for hours lengthened to 
days before Stella regained entire conscious- 
ness ; and in the mean time she had become as 
weak as a child. None but the trained strength 
of Mary Godwin could so gently have lifted and 
turned her, so unweariedly have watched beside 
her. 

The preparations for Nellie’s nuptials were 
still progressing, although the latter declared 
she would not be married until Stella was pro- 
nounced convalescent. 

When the patient was well enough to compre- 


STELLA HOPE 


259 


hend, Weston gathered each day the fairest and 
most fragrant of her favorite flowers and sent 
them in his name — always with some tender 
message when Nellie was the bearer; but they 
appeared to afford little pleasure to the recip- 
ient, who would lay them on her pillow and weep 
silently over them. Then Weston would be 
deeply pained that there returned to him no 
message, nor even word of remembrance. 

One day, when she had been allowed to sit up 
a little while, and her mind was perfectly clear, 
he wrote a few words of loving entreaty for an 
answer, and placed the missive in among the 
flowers where she might easily perceive it. 

This set her to thinking deeply. Oh! how 
she dreaded to see him again, though her heart 
was almost breaking now for the love of him; 
for she recognized only too well that without 
any explanation whatever she must say good- 
by to him forever, turning her steps any- 
whither in the world than where he might be. 
The agony of it had made her ill and had kept 
her so. As the time slowly went by she realized 
more and more fully the trying ordeal through 
which she must inevitably pass, and she grew 
more reluctant each day to be taken down stairs. 
But the doctor insisted, fearing lest she sink 
into settled melancholia. 

Frequently Mary Godwin was awakened in 
the night by the despairing moans of the tor- 
tvired girl, who would cry out, 

‘‘Oh! I cannot endure it; I cannot endure 
it!’’ 


260 


STELLA HOPE 


Mary went at such time to her side, and 
begged to know the cause of the anguish. 

‘‘Tell it all to your Mary, dear; and ease 
your mind and heart of your trouble,^’ she 
would say to the despairing sufferer, who long 
desisted, until at last, feeling that she must have 
the helpful sympathy of a human creature, or 
go mad, she confided to the nurse, under oath 
of eternal secrecy, the cause of all her illness 
and agony. So insistent and exacting was she 
as to this oath, that Mary, against her better 
judgment, was compelled to give it. 

After this confidence the patient appeared to 
feel more comfort, and having her mind in a 
measure relieved by having another to help sus- 
tain her, she improved more rapidly. 

Very fragile, white, and spiritless she looked 
on the morning when Dr. Murray, in spite of 
her remonstrances, insisted on her being taken 
down stairs and deposited in a great arm-chair, 
where all, one by one, as the doctor had sug- 
gested, came to greet and congratulate her. 
Upon Weston alone had Dr. Murray laid re- 
strictions, saying, 

“DonT go in till she asks about you, or shows 
some concern for you. Better still, if you can 
excite a little irritation at your tardiness.” 
And hard as it was for him to be the only one 
excluded, he was constrained to acquiesce. 

When all had been in, Stella began to glance 
nervously around, fearing each moment he 
would come; then would sink back upon her 


STELLA HOPE 261 

cushions, infinitely relieved when he did not 
appear. 

After an hour she was taken back to her 
room. The next day she was again brought 
down. After all had talked to her a little and 
gone out, except Nellie, Weston passed the open 
door. The quasi-engagement was known to the 
whole family and by common consent it was ar- 
ranged that he should see her alone. 

Nellie said, 

‘‘I will go now, dear; there is another visitor 
who wishes to see you to-day. May I tell him 
you will receive himT^ 

Stella shrank back affrighted. 

‘‘No, no! I cannot see him to-day. I cannot, 
indeed. ’ ^ 

Weston was inexpressibly pained; but the 
next day, when she was alone, he passed and 
saw her sitting in the most profound dejection, 
her glance fixed upon the floor. Her face was 
turned partially from him, and it was not till 
he had stooped over and softly kissed her on the 
brow that she became aware of his presence. 

“Dearest,’^ he said in accents of profound 
tenderness; and she looked up with a startled 
and terrified glance. But oh! in that glance 
what hopeless misery ! 

“Dearest,’’ he repeated, and made a move- 
ment to take her hand, but she drew back and 
averted her face. 

He was cut to the heart, and did not know 
how to proceed. Then he l)esought her to tell 
him the cause of her coldness, her repulsion. 


262 


STELLA HOPE 


By the memory of their former friendship he 
besought her to tell him why she treated him so. 

Because — ^because — she faltered, ^‘every- 
thing must now forever be at an end between 
us.’^ 

It was in vain that he urged; she could only 
entreat piteously, 

‘ ‘ Please leave me now. ^ ’ 

“Yes, darling; but you will let me see you 
again to-morrow? You will not break my heart 
then, as you are doing now, will you?” 

At his appealing words she hid her face in 
her hands and the hot tears fell trickling 
through her slender, almost transparent fin- 
gers. 

‘ ‘ Go — go ! ’ ’ was all she could utter. 

He rose, kissed the back of her hand, then 
went out, his face ashen in its anguish. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


After this Weston came and went like the 
others. He never attempted a private word 
with Stella, for the doctor had said, 

‘‘Try to pass it over cheerfully. She will 
come round in good time.’’ 

A week before the wedding, Rita came, 
brighter, more vivacious, even more charming 
than ever; seeking to make herself useful, or 
agreeable as the case might be, and always suc- 
ceeding admirably. 

“I had expected to hear, on my return, the 
title Mrs. prefixed to your name,” said Will, 
after greeting her. He had always admired 
her extravagantly, and now wondered that no 
princely man had succeeded in gaining her love. 

Rita laughed with the confidence born of con- 
quest. 

“I suppose you will despair of ever seeing 
me a matron. But I assure you, though you 
have known me long, I am not entirely passee. ’ ’ 
Then she continued more seriously, 

“I am not quite twenty-two yet, and I main- 
tain that every girl who so elects should be 
allowed to enjoy her single-blessedness for a 
full quarter of a century; especially now since 
medical scientists claim that human life may 
be greatly prolonged. However,” said she, 
turning to Weston and speaking in a low tone. 


264 


STELLA HOPE 


rather expect to share my freedom with 
some one next winter. ’ ’ 

This confidential communication surprised 
him for the moment ; but after meditating upon 
it he thought he understood. His attitude 
toward her on her first visit had appeared to 
many as lover-like. She herself had perhaps 6o 
construed it, not knowing of his attachment to 
Stella, and being no coquette she was too gen- 
erous to cause useless suffering. He took an 
early occasion to tell her of his half engage- 
ment and of the shadow which had fallen on his 
hopes. 

She did not see Stella until the next day as 
the latter sat listless near the open window of 
the sitting-room, through which floated in the 
breeze, laden with the perfume of flowers, 
sporting with the loose ringlets of her hair. 

Rita had fluttered in as softly as the breeze, 
and now taking the thin cheeks between both 
hands kissed her tenderly several times before 
speaking. 

‘‘Dear girl, I am so grieved to hear that you 
have been ill, but delighted to find you con- 
valescent,’^ said she. Then she took the in- 
valid’s delicate hand, and stroking it softly, 
made no further allusion to her illness; but 
chattered on brightly, seeking to beguile her 
thoughts from herself. 

Pausing a little, lest she weary her listener, 
she leaned out of the window, and breaking a 
spray of jasmine fastened it in the bosom of the 


STELLA HOPE 265 

pretty matinee jacket which Stella was wear- 
ing. 

^Sweets to the sweet. ^ You look like one 
of these pure white blossoms yourself. It is my 
favorite flower; don’t you like the perfume? 
But if you love flowers and birds, you must 
come down and spend the winter with me. Ah ! 
I remember now your pet doves, Ceyx and Al- 
cyone. I must hear something of them. In my 
Magnolia-Land you can enjoy both birds and 
flowers all winter ; and it will give us all such 
pleasure to minister to your comfort.” 

Thus she talked on, hoping to cheer and di- 
vert; but her listener could only faintly mur- 
mur her appreciation of the other’s kindness 
and then lapse into thoughtful silence; which 
Eita, observing, went out, and beckoning Wes- 
ton, whispered, ‘^Go in now; I think she feels 
your absence.” 

She did look up, in a half-expectant manner, 
and a faint smile of welcome hovered for a 
moment upon her lips as she held out a trem- 
bling hand. He raised it almost as carefully as 
if it had been some delicate piece of alabaster 
which a touch might shatter, so fragile did it 
look, and kissed it tenderly. Yet he did not 
relinquish it till she made a movement to with- 
draw it. 

Almost brightly she began to talk of Eita; 
talked of her beauty, her wit, her goodness, and 
of her winsome ways. 

Even as she talked he saw how she was striv- 
ing to ignore his interest in herself and to 


266 


STELLA HOPE 


rekindle his admiration of Eita — to transfer, as 
it were, his affections from herself to Eita. 

It cost him a great pang to observe this, while 
she was thinking. ^‘Oh! if he would forget me 
and turn again to her, how gladly for the sake 
of his happiness would I be forever effaced 
from his memory!’’ 

Weston leaned toward her. 

‘^Darling,” said he, ‘‘don’t you think that, 
supported by my arm, you might take a turn or 
two on the shaded veranda!” 

‘ ‘ Oh, no ! do not ask me, ’ ’ she cried, sinking 
away from him. 

He mistook look and action for aversion to 
himself, and a groan broke from his lips. 

‘ ‘ Oh ! Stella darling, why have you conceived 
such a dislike for me!” and rising hastily he 
walked to the opposite window to conceal his 
unutterable anguish. Presently he came back 
to her, looking white and haggard. 

“Do you sincerely wish me never to mention 
to you again the subject nearest my heart!” he 
asked in a low, strangely altered voice. 

She raised her eyes to his, and with a look in 
which all of earthly joy seemed expiring, she 
answered slowly and deliberately, 

“Yes, I wish it; forget me; and may you be 
as happy with — ^with some one else as I would 
have you, and as you deserve to be. With one 
who — ^who — ” 

She could say no more, but dropped her face 
in her hands in unutteralDle anguish. 


STELLA HOPE 


267 


‘‘So be it, then; I will persecute you no 
more. ’ ’ 

The voice was no more the vibrant, cheery 
voice of Weston; but sounded cold, and hard, 
and desolate. The next moment he had placed 
his hand as if in benediction on her head, and 
then went softly out, closing the door behind 
him. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


Brightly shone the sun on Nellie’s wedding- 
day; and though no silver bells rang out in 
merry peal upon the air, never had the flowers 
bloomed more profusely nor the birds carolled 
more joyously from all the tree-tops than upon 
the present occasion. 

Not one individual in the household, white or 
colored, but sought to perform for her some 
loving service; even Weston assisted Ethel with 
the flowers, smiling sometimes in bitter irony 
as he thought upon his own blighted hopes. 

Then at last the bride stood arrayed for the 
ceremony. Her mother had struggled to re- 
press her emotion for fear of making her 
daughter’s eyes red with sympathetic tears; 
but when she saw how really lovely and elegant 
the latter looked, maternal pride could hold out 
no longer and there was an unmistakable mois- 
ture in her eyes as she lifted the bridal veil 
and kissed her, saying warningly, 

Don’t cry, my dear; it will spoil your pretty 
eyes. ’ ’ 

But tears of happiness do not mar beauty 
like those of sorrow, and when the bride was 
conducted into the room where the bridegroom 
was waiting, and the rose-hue on her cheek 
deepened at sight of his brilliantly happy eyes, 
she was as fair a bride as need gladden the 
heart of any lover. 


STELLA HOPE 


269 


On account of Stella’s illness the wedding 
was private, and when the clergyman was gone, 
Will turned to Mrs. Haughton. 

^^My dear Madam, I am now your much-to- 
be-congratulated son-in-law, but I am no longer 
your cousin, as you have supposed. Here,” 
said he, taking Weston by the arm and whirling 
him around to face her, ^^here is the Will Wil- 
loughby who, with his father, visited you years 
ago. ’ ’ 

“I fail to comprehend you. Will,” replied 
Mrs. Haughton, regarding him coldly. 
might reasonably assume that all practical 
jokes and masquerades had been laid aside as 
unworthy of an occasion so sacred as this. 
Pray explain yourself — Mr. Willoughby — or 
whatever your name may be. ’ ’ 

^^My name is undoubtedly what I have been 
hitherto called, but this gentleman has as much 
right to the name as I have,” answered Will, 
smiling. 

^‘Oh! then,” said Mrs. Haughton freezingly, 
but bewildered, ^^you give me to understand you 
have a double. ’ ’ 

^Mn name, yes. In short, Madam, he is my 
father’s nephew, my more than cousin, and we 
both bear the name of our paternal grandfather, 
William Willoughby, whom you knew and who 
with this Will visited you here at Oaklands 
fifteen years ago.” 

This explanation caused a deal of exclama- 
tion among the cousins and Mrs. Haughton her- 
self ; for though the latter was deeply otf ended 


270 


STELLA HOPE 


at the deception which she deemed had been 
put upon her, yet she succeeded very creditably 
in concealing her mortification under a smiling 
exterior as she shook her finger at the two 
young men for their ‘‘naughtiness.’’ 

“But I cannot understand,” said she, “the 
occasion for such a deception.” 

Then Will laughingly explained that his 
cousin during his former visit had fallen a vic- 
tim to Marie’s youthful charms, and desired to 
discover, after he reached marriageable age, if 
she would prove as charming to a poor com- 
panion as she had been to the heir-expectant of 
great wealth. 

Afterward he related apart to Mrs. Haugh- 
ton, with Stella near in her armchair, how he, 
the orphaned nephew, had been received by his 
uncle and cousin with open arms, and how his 
and Weston’s souls had from the first been, like 
those of David and Jonathan, knit together; 
and how, though he had come to them penni- 
less, he had, at Weston’s insistence, been made 
a co-heir. He told how, since both of them bore 
the same name, it had been necessary at college 
to differentiate them, and because he was from 
the East, while his cousin was of the West, he 
himself had been dubbed by the students Easton 
and the other Will had ever since been called 
Weston. Therefore, when they had come to her 
home he had simply retained his own name, and 
Weston had kept the name by which he was 
popularly known. 

Weston now laughingly shook hands around . 


STELLA HOPE 


271 


with his three cousins, reminding them of for- 
mer escapades together; but Ethel, through 
shame, rather held aloof, for under any other 
than her mother’s training she would have been 
a much more natural, lovable woman. 

Weston now walked away with Nellie toward 
Stella ’s chair, and Mrs. Haughton, with a world 
of significance, whispered to her eldest daugh- 
ter. 

“Oh, Marie, Marie, if we could only have 
hnownV’ 

Stella was leaning back with averted face. It 
was only after he had spoken and she failed to 
reply that they saw she had fainted. 

Beckoning Mary Godwin they took her into 
the sitting-room and laid her on a sofa ; and go- 
ing for restoratives, left Weston momentarily 
alone with her. She opened her eyes, and, not 
really seeing him at all, murmured in a tone of 
great sadness and bewilderment. 

“Not Weston, but some one I never knew?” 

“Yes, yes; dear love; always Weston to 
you,” he cried, kissing her pale lips in heart- 
breaking farewell as they came to take her to 
her room. 

She was entirely conscious some hours later 
when Will and Nellie came to say good-by; and, 
as she felt Nellie’s tears and kisses on her face, 
she wondered if he were going to leave her 
without one word ; for she had no recollection of 
anything after the conclusion of Will ’s story. 

Then after Nellie came Eita to say farewell; 
and as the invalid heard carriages rolling away 


272 


STELLA HOPE 


in the night she was reminded of that other 
sorrowful night so long ago when she had lain 
and listened with anguished heart to the same 
sound. 

The next day Mary Godwin placed in her 
hand a note hastily written by Weston before 
leaving. 

‘^My own darling,’’ it ran, “I promised you 
that I would no more persecute you with unwel- 
come words of love; but I am leaving now not 
knowing if I shall ever have the happiness of 
seeing you again ; therefore pardon me for the 
few words I shall write. 

know that persons suffering from your 
malady are subject to sudden revulsions of feel- 
ing; and, almost against hope, I am trusting 
that your late aversion may be due to some such 
cause. This faint hope now induces me to say 
that, if after you shall be restored to your for- 
mer health and spirits you ever feel any revival 
of tenderness for me, one little word ^Come’ 
will instantly bring me to your side. 

‘‘In this hope, permit him who has so faith- 
fully cherished your image, to wait; so that 
when you grow older and shall recognize the 
value of an unswerving devotion you may pos- 
sibly relent toward him, and crown his years of 
waiting. 

‘ ‘ May God bless, protect, and preserve you is 
the repeated prayer of 

“Yours now, and ever, 

“Weston.'^ 


STELLA HOPE 


273 


From this time Stella continued to conva- 
lesce. She had formed her plan for the future ; 
and when a week later Mary Godwin left, her 
charge smiled almost brightly as she said : 
will join you soon.’’ 


17 


CHAPTER XIX 


Weston had accompanied the bridal pair as 
far as the Oaklands station, intending to take 
a later train in another direction. As he was 
sitting lonely after their departure, a prey to 
very sorrowful reflections, it suddenly occurred 
to him that in the bustle of preparations for 
the wedding the mail had not been thought of, 
and possibly there might be letters for him. 

Upon application he received several, among 
them one forwarded from Paris, and addressed 
‘‘Richard Stockton, Esqr., 

“1817, Rue de la , 

“Paris, 

‘ ‘ France. ’ ’ 

At sight of this superscription he became 
suddenly deeply interested; and unwarrantable 
as it may appear, he unhesitatingly broke the 
seal and read as follows : 

“Convent of Santa Maria of The Doves, 
“July 10th, 19—. 

“Mr. Richard Stockton. 

‘ ‘ My Dear Sir : It is with inexpressible pain 
that I have decided to lay before you a most 
surprising and distressing circumstance in re- 
gard to your niece. 

“Up to the time of her departure from our 
institution she was the best beloved as well as 
one of the most highly, respected young ladies 


STELLA HOPE 


275 


ever educated within these venerable walls. In 
every respect she had been a shining example to 
other ^ students, and you may therefore judge 
how like a thunderbolt fell upon us the startling 
revelation which came just one hour after her 
departure from us. On opening my desk that 
morning to distribute some moneys to several 
young ladies who were about to leave, I discov - 
ered, to my horror, as well as consternation, 
that it was all gone. 

^‘To save time and confusion I had, on the 
previous day, rolled up in separate packages 
and marked such sums as I was to return to 
them after all the expenses of the session had 
been settled. I had done this in the presence of 
several girls, among whom I distinctly remem- 
bered your niece. 

‘‘Upon leaving my office I had thought it 
unnecessary to lock my desk, as I had taken 
especial pains to see that the windows were 
fastened, and I always lock my door on leaving 
the office. 

“During the exercises of that evening I 
needed some article from the office, and being 
occupied, I requested Stella Hope — our beloved 
and trusted Stella — to take the key to the door 
and bring me the article in question. No one 
else except myself had the key that entire after- 
noon, or evening. Also, it was of a peculiar 
construction, and there was no duplicate. 

‘ ‘ I had no occasion to look into my desk again 
till next morning. 

“The money, though quite considerable, was 


276 


STELLA HOPE 


a mere trifle in comparison with the awful sus- 
picion which forced itself upon me. 

‘‘Several young ladies had seen me give the 
key to your niece, and when the whole matter 
had been investigated one of them declared that 
she had seen Stella go into the trunk-room and 
slip something mysteriously into a music- 
portfolio. 

“Now the Sisters always pack the trunks; 
and such being the case, I felt no hesitation in 
unlocking Miss Hope’s trunk which, containing 
books and music, was to be sent by express. 

“Imagine my distress and astonishment 
when, opening the portfolio, I discovered sev- 
eral packages of the girls’ money; but the un- 
marked money of my own was not to be found. 
Of course the supposition could be no other 
than that she had taken that money with her. 

“I did not wish the matter to be made public, 
so I requested all the girls who knew of it not to 
divulge it, exacting from each a solemn promise 
to that effect. I told them there might be a 
mistake and I wanted to investigate further. 
Ah! why did I ever place temptation in her 
way? Freely would I give my right arm rather 
than have done so. 

“For many days I prayed for heavenly 
guidance, and then I wrote to Stella. I im- 
plored her, for the sake of her soul, to confess 
the whole truth about it ; and if she would return 
all the money I would have the whole sisterhood 
pray for her restoration to grace. 

“She never replied to my letter, which, alas! 


STELLA HOPE 


277 


was proof positive that she had committed the 
theft and was impenitent. Such being the case, 
there was no alternative but to write to you — 
her guardian and uncle — that you may act in 
such wise as you think best. 

Never in my experience have I had nny- 
thing to so pain me. We will all intercede for 
her with the Holy Mother, praying that exten- 
uating circumstances may be brought to light, 
and that she may be shielded from temptation in 
the future. 

‘^Thanking you for your patronage and 
deeply regretting the unfortunate termination 
of your niece ’s brilliant career with us, I am, 
‘‘With profound respect, 

“Maria Agnes Joseph a, 
“Mother Superior of Santa Maria of the 
Doves. ’ ’ 

When Weston had read to the end the letter 
fell from his hands, and for a few minutes he 
sat stunned, as one in a catalepsy. Then, with a 
mighty rush, the blood surged through his 
veins, and his brain seemed on fire. 

“My God!’’ he burst out, oblivious of his 
surroundings and the presence of the agent. 

The latter glanced toward him with concern. 

“No ill news, I hope, sir?” 

“Yes, a great misfortune to one of my 
friends.” He got up and walked unsteadily 
from the room. 

Out upon the platform the cool night air upon 
his forehead was like a breath from heaven; 
and he stood there looking blankly up to the 


278 


STELLA HOPE 


stars, endeavoring to comprehend something 
that was slowly taking shape in his mind. 

In an instant it all came to him like a flash. 

‘‘My own precious darling! No wonder you 
felt a presentiment of coming evil, and that 
your reason succumbed under the weight of 
such a calamity! Ah! I see now so clearly 
that you have been made the victim of a dia- 
bolical plot. Your disappointed rival, the let- 
ter waiting for you after our last walk. Ah! 
and the bank-notes that fell across your hands 
at the piano — dear, beautiful hands! We have 
all been fools not to see that you were crushed 
by very great and real trouble. 

“Shall I go back and tell her that I know all, 
and will see her righted or perish in the at- 
tempt? But that would be to acknowledge I 
have been presumptuously acting the benefac- 
tor under the name of her uncle who may still be 
living. Then she would feel humiliated b}^ the 
discovery that she owes her education to the 
charity of an alien. Besides, I wish no senti- 
ment of gratitude to mingle with the nature of 
her regard for me; and I know her sensitive, 
high-spirited character too well to flatter myself 
that she will ever marry me or any one else with 
this stigma upon her name. 

“Ah! miserable instrument that I have been 
in bringing this calamity upon her ! But I swear 
to spend my life and whole fortune, if neces- 
sary, in tracing up and bringing to confession 
the wretch who has destroyed her happiness. 
0 that I might take her burden upon my shoul- 
ders!’^ 


CHAPTER XXX 


Within a week a carriage containing two men 
drew up before the entrance of the Convent of 
Santa Maria. A few minutes later they were in 
conversation with the Mother Superior. 

There is no difficulty about recognizing one of 
them, for it is Weston. The other is a famous 
detective, who has been engaged by Weston to 
work up this case and bring the real culprit to 
confession or to justice. 

The Mother Superior was made acquainted 
with their suspicions as to the real perpetrator, 
and, her eyes opened to the motive, she was now 
aiding them in bringing about a reparation of 
the great wrong that had been done an innocent 
girl. 

When the conversation came to an end the de- 
tective said: 

‘^Will you be so kind. Mother, as to show us 
the situation of your office where the money was 
kept 1 ’ ’ 

With obliging readiness she led the way. 
When they had entered, and the detective had 
glanced all around the office, he said : 

‘^Are you sure. Mother, that no one had the 
key that day except yourself and Miss Hope?” 

^ ‘ Quite sure, ’ ^ she answered decidedly. 

^‘And you had bolted the windows and locked 
the door?” 

‘Wes, carefully.” 


280 


STELLA HOPE 


you had left the key to the desk in the 

lockT’ 

‘‘Yes; for with the windows and the door 
locked I could not possibly foresee the chance 
of any one ’s getting to my desk, ’ ’ she answered. 

“And to your certain knowledge there is no 
other key of the kind in the institution ? ’ ’ 

“None. I had the lock made for the pur- 
pose of frustrating any such attempt,’’ and she 
showed him an unusual key. 

“Was it known to the young ladies that you 
were in the habit of keeping money in that 
desk?” 

“Yes; it was to this office that I always sum- 
moned them for any monetary transaction.” 

“Did Miss Morna Lea leave soon after Miss 
Hope?” 

“No; she remained here till I could find a sit- 
uation for her. ’ ’ 

“Was she in the office the day you marked 
the money?” 

“Yes, with half a dozen others.” 

“Was it she who professed to see Miss Hope 
mysteriously put something in her trunk that 
night before retiring?” 

“Yes.” 

‘ ‘ Did any one else see her do this ? ’ ’ 

“No; at least no one said so.” 

“Ah!” That was all the comment he made. 
Then after a pause he said : 

“I hope you will both pardon and assist me 
if I now proceed to make some investigations 
for myself.” 


STELLA HOPE 


281 


‘ ‘ Certainly ; I will do everything I can ; for I 
would give much to have our dear pupil exon- 
erated. ’ ’ 

Thank you/’ and he walked to the window 
and looked out. 

‘‘To what rooms does this upper veranda 
lead?” he asked. 

“On one side, to the music-rooms; on the 
other, to the art-rooms. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Did Miss Lea take music ? ’ ’ 

“Yes.” 

“Where is the dormitory situated in which 
Miss Lea was accustomed to sleep?” 

“On the third floor, immediately above the 
music-rooms. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Then there is easy access to the music-room 
in which she was accustomed to practice?” 

“Yes; the staircase from the dormitory ends 
almost at the door of the music-room. ’ ’ 

“And the distance of that music-room from 
here?” 

“Just three doors away, and looks out upon 
the veranda. ’ ’ 

“And where is the trunk-room in which Miss 
Hope had her trunk?” 

‘ ‘ On the fourth floor, above the dormitory. ’ ’ 

“Will you kindly conduct me to the music- 
room in question?” 

“Certainly.” 

When he was in it he walked to the one win- 
dow, opened it, and stepped out upon the 
veranda, saying to the Mother and Weston: 


282 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘Now, will you kindly return to the office and 
bolt the windows 1 ’ ’ 

They did as requested, he remaining outside 
in front of one of the windows. 

As soon as they had been bolted, he took from 
his pocket an ordinary knife, opened the longest 
blade, inserted it between the upper sash and 
the lower, and without the slightest difficulty 
turned the bolt, raised the sash and stepped in. 

The Mother Superior was astonished and 
horrified at the ease with which he had invaded 
her sanctum. 

The detective only smiled at her presupposed 
immunity from burglarious entrance, and re- 
quested to be taken without delay to the dormi- 
tory and trunk-room. When he had reached the 
latter he drew out his watch and said : 

‘ ‘ It has taken exactly three minutes from the 
time of entering the music-room. I suppose 
Miss Lea had ample time for accomplishing her 
purpose after leaving the auditorium where the 
prizes were being distributed V’ 

“I should judge so, since she was alone for 
at least two hours. ’ ’ 

“When she gave information about the plac- 
ing by Miss Hope of something in her trunk, 
had she looked into that trunk herself ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh, no ; I suppose not. I searched the trunk 
myself, but she directed me where to look, which 
was between the sheets of a music-book. ’ ’ 

“Did it not occur to you as rather singular 
that she should be so accurately acquainted with 
the place of concealment!’’ 


STELLA HOPE 


283 


It did not occur to me at the time, so 
strongly did suspicion point to Miss Hope; but 
now I confess it does. ’ ^ 

‘‘Were the trunks of the young ladies locked 
at all times ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh, no ; it is against our regulations for the 
trunks to be locked at any time while they are 
under our care. ’ ’ 

“Was there any other article not belonging to 
Miss Hope found in her trunk, when it was 
searched?’’ 

“Nothing whatever, except books, music, and 
a few articles of winter clothing. ’ ’ 

“Are such trunks usually sent by express 
after the owner has returned home ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, usually.” 

“Did Miss Hope know this?” 

“Yes ; all the girls know it and prefer it, since 
being excess baggage it would only be bother- 
some and no advantage to take it along with 
them. ’ ’ 

“Have you ever heard from the young lady 
— Miss Hope — since she left?” 

“No; and that very circumstance increased 
my suspicions, ’ ’ and she told what she had writ- 
ten to Stella. 

It was at this point that Weston, who had 
been a silent but an interested listener, now 
explained the cause of her sudden illness and 
her subsequent inability to write. 

The kind Mother appeared much affected, 
and expressed many wishes for the clearing up 
of the matter and Stella ’s ultimate exoneration. 


284 


STELLA HOPE 


Then the detective, turning to both, said : 

‘^Make your minds easy on that score. I 
would stake my life on her innocence; and, in 
due course of time, I promise you the confes- 
sions of the wicked and revengeful girl who has 
done Miss Hope this wrong. But give me time ; 
these things often require to be worked out 
slowly. ’ ’ 

To Weston, who had never for a moment en- 
tertained the faintest suspicion of Stella’s inno- 
cence, this announcement, while it gave hope, 
also brought some discouragement on account 
of the delay implied; but the Mother Superior 
expressed heart-felt hope that the affair might 
result in the vindication of Stella, even if it took 
years to establish her innocence. 

Upon request she gave the residence, employ- 
ment, and address of Morna Lea. Then the two 
men went away, bidding a grateful farewell to 
the Mother, whom they promised to acquaint 
with the progress of the case. They both felt 
much encouraged at the very useful informa- 
tion they had received. 


CHAPTER XXXI 


^ It is now late in September, and Stella is 
sitting upon the porch at Oaklands with head 
leaned meditatively against one of its columns. 
She has in a measure recovered her health, but 
the elasticity of her mind and the buoyancy of 
her spirits were gone ; for the severance of her 
engagement with Weston weighed heavily upon 
her. 

She held in her hand an open letter, but her 
eyes were fixed upon the distant horizon, and 
she saw nothing in the world around her, nor 
heard the step of Mrs. Haughton who, at that 
moment, came out to enjoy the evening breeze 
and the fine sunset. It was not until she spoke 
that Stella became aware of her presence. Then 
she turned and said : 

‘^Aunt Kate, I have for some time been wish- 
ing to speak with you about my plans, but have 
waited to hear from my uncle before laying 
them before you. I will be glad to discuss them, 
or rather my plan — since I have but one — if you 
will give me a few minutes of your time now. ’ ’ 
‘‘Certainly, my dear, as much as you wish. 
Leisure is more abundant with me than any- 
thing else since my dear Nellie left me; and now 
that Ethel is also away I have more of it than is 
altogether agreeable. What is your planT’ 
“Aunt Kate, you know that I have always 
been desirous of being self-supporting. I wish 


286 


STELLA HOPE 


to be a burden to no one, and as I am unac- 
quainted with the financial condition of my 
uncle I prefer to do something for my own 
maintenance, and also to repay you for the ex- 
pense and worry I have been to you. I wish to 
enter at once into a course of training to be- 
come a professional nurse.” 

Had a bomb suddenly exploded at Mrs. 
Haughton’s feet she could not have looked more 
astounded and aghast. Then a hot flush of 
anger suffused her cheek and she hastily ex- 
claimed : 

‘‘Absurd and preposterous! I forbid you 
ever to mention such a Quixotic idea again. 
What would your uncle, who has been so kind to 
you, what would your teachers and school 
friends say?” 

“As for my uncle, to whom I wrote two weeks 
ago, there is his letter, giving a qualified assent. 
As for my teachers, they would applaud a reso- 
lution on the part of any of their graduates to 
do something for herself and for others. My 
school friends all have their own plans, and 
would scarcely be surprised that I have mine. 
Your approval is all I am waiting for to begin 
at once my training. ’ ’ 

“And that approval you shall never, never 
have. If Richard Stockton is such a fool as to 
give his consent after all he has done to make 
you a lady, if he would consent to your lowering 
the family, then I am done with him also. If, as 
you say, your decision is fully made, I wash my 
hands of you forever, and the sooner you go the 


STELLA HOPE 


287 


better. I utterly disown you from that time.’’ 
And Mrs. Haughton leaned back in her chair, 
with jaws firmly set, and the angry fiush still on 
her cheek. 

It was in vain that Stella reasoned ; she would 
listen to no argument, yield to no softness ; but 
rising at last in harsh displeasure, she said : 

see that you are still very far from sane, 
or you would never have broken off with Wes- 
ton, as he foolishly prefers to be called, or have 
formed such a project as this. If you will not 
listen to reason, then go your own way; and, 
as I have said, the sooner the better. ’ ’ 

Stella could and would make no concession 
to her aunt’s prejudices; for she had arrived at 
her determination only after much meditation 
and weighing of influences. Her chief argument 
was that her own life being hopelessly ruined, 
she could never expect happiness in this world ; 
therefore she would make the most of life’s tar- 
nished remnant by accomplishing the most good 
for others of which she might be capable. As in 
her former free and unrestricted life nursing 
would have appeared the least congenial, so 
now it appealed to her most strongly as the one 
avenue for her human sympathies and her pow- 
ers of endurance. Mary Godwin’s example had 
appealed to her irresistibly. 

At the close of her argument Mrs. Haughton 
turned, and without vouchsafing a reply went 
in. It was the only time she had made any allu- 
sion to the breaking of the engagement, and 
she would not have alluded to it now but that 


288 


STELLA HOPE 


she saw Stella was determined, and there would 
be no renewal, in all probability, if the girl in- 
sisted on making a professional nurse of her- 
self. The truth of the matter was that, in so 
far as Stella had herself broken the engage- 
ment, her aunt was very willing for it to remain 
broken, she having several little ‘‘projects^’ in 
her own mind with respect to Weston and 
Ethel ; for since the identity and large wealth of 
Weston had been made known that gentleman 
had very considerably risen in her estimation. 

The ‘‘qualified consent” of which Stella had 
spoken was that she should never go out to 
nurse other than female patients or children; 
so now, having completed the arrangement with 
Mary Godwin, the next few days saw her in- 
stalled in the training-school, in whose corps 
Mary held a responsible position. 

Autumn passed, winter came and went, spring 
merged slowly into summer; and within that 
period Stella had seen much of suffering, had 
gained much valuable knowledge, and had re- 
ceived the warm commendations of head nurses 
and physicians for her nerve and skill. She 
had resolutely put away all thought of self, and 
each month found her gaining more control over 
herself and over her charges. 

Day after day, as she saw eyes heavy and dull 
with suffering follow her movements, and wan 
faces brighten at her approach, she rejoiced 
that she had found courage to brave her aunt’s 


STELLA HOPE 


289 


displeasure and to devote her strength and en- 
ergies to such a good cause. 

A solid friendship had long been cemented 
between herself and Mary ; for though there was 
great disparity in their knowledge and experi- 
ence of the world, there was no great difference 
in years, Mary being only a few years her 
senior. 

Summer came on and the hospital work was 
unusually heavy. Some of the nurses were tak- 
ing vacation, but Mary and Stella remained at 
their posts; for since she had gone counter to 
her aunt’s wishes she felt that Oaklands was 
virtually closed to her. Besides, she wished to 
take her vacation when Mary took hers. 

Severe physical strain and nocturnal vigils 
were beginning to tell seriously upon her, caus- 
ing Mary to fear lest she break down. One hot 
day she was found in a swoon from exhaustion, 
and the chief physician had commanded rest. 

While Mary was casting about for a suitable 
place for Stella a letter came from Nellie, writ- 
ten in her usual affectionate and entertaining 
style, and giving an enchanting itinerary of a 
projected Canadian tour. She closed with a 
threat of her severe and lasting displeasure 
unless Stella should immediately accept an in- 
vitation to accompany Will and herself on this 
trip, charging her to beware of the offense of 
even bringing a pocketbook along with her. 

Stella’s heart was filled with gratitude, and 
she experienced a feeling nearer akin to pleas- 

i8 


290 


STELLA HOPE 


ure than she had entertained for a year. She 
took the letter to Mary, who was as much 
pleased as Stella herself. 

was becoming seriously alarmed about 
you, dear, and was perplexed to find a suitable 
place for you near at hand. This settles the 
question so satisfactorily.’’ 

Accordingly, she made ready to join Nellie at 
the appointed rendezvous, and the cordial greet- 
ing of the latter was : 

‘^My dearest girl, you don’t know what a 
pleasure you have given by joining us. I was 
so much afraid you would allow some cranliy 
little notion to keep you from coming. You are 
looking pale and tired, my dear, but the fresh 
breezes of the Lakes and the Canadian plains 
will soon recall the roses to your cheeks. ’ ’ 

Will’s greeting was no less cordial than his 
wife’s. 

‘‘You have done my wife a far greater favor 
than you imagine,” said he. “It has been two 
months since Ethel left us, so she is growing 
tired of my company and longs for some sym- 
pathizing friend into whose ear to pour the tale 
of matrimonial infelicities. Eh! is it not so, my 
spouse!” and, d la Napoleon, he pinched his 
wife ’s pretty pink ear. 

‘ ‘ Take care, sir ; I have a deal to tell already. 
You see for yourself, Stella, how he pinches me. 
When I sue for a divorce you can testify that 
you saw him do it,” and she turned her eyes, 
bright with joy and laughter, toward Stella, and 
then looked lovingly at her husband. Stella’s 


STELLA HOPE 


291 


heart bounded with joy to see them both so 
happy. 

As the latter, several hours later, was stand- 
ing in some perplexity beside her trunk, consid- 
ering how with her meager wardrobe she was to 
apparel herself in such wise as to reflect no dis- 
credit upon her hosts, Nellie came in smiling 
genially. 

‘‘What troubles you?’’ she asked, seeing 
Stella’s troubled look. 

After Stella had told her, she said : 

“Come into my room. I have something to 
show you.” And there upon the bed were sev- 
eral beautiful evening dresses, with all the 
accessories. 

“I took the liberty of having these made for 
you before I left St. Louis, as I remembered 
your measurements, and I knew you would have 
no time to attend to such matters. Except for 
the hotels, one does not need much besides a 
traveling-dress on a tour such as ours, and T 
think you will find these sufficient, dear. ’ ’ 

She paused a moment, for Stella was strug- 
gling for words with which to express her grati- 
tude, being overcome at Nellie’s generous and 
unexpected kindness. 

“Ah! I see,” cried the latter laughing, and 
kissing her, “you wish to refuse them; but I 
shall not allow it. No, no thanks; for it really 
puts me to my wits ’ end to get rid of each instal- 
ment of my pin-money before another is forced 
upon me,” and she whispered into her young 
cousin’s ear, as a weighty and dishonorable se- 


292 


STELLA HOPE 


cret, ‘^Dear Will is so wealthy that I am posi- 
tively ashamed of him. Why, just think of it ! ’ ’ 
she resumed in her natural tones, have al- 
ready been able from this same pin-money to 
lift all dear mama’s mortgages, and to relieve 
other financial embarrassments,” and in her 
attempts to keep back Stella’s grateful tears 
her own kind eyes overran with the pure joy of 
beneficence. 

Later, as Stella stood arrayed in one of the 
pretty gowns, Nellie remarked : 

^^How very becoming to you is this delicate 
shade of pink; but every color is becoming to 
your style of beauty. See, the roses are com- 
ing back now, and we will try to keep them 
there. ’ ’ And when Will joined them and looked 
his admiration, his wife said, laughing : 

‘‘Take care, sir; I will not have you casting 
such admiring glances on any woman but my- 
self. You had best not make me jealous. ’ ’ 

As they were leaving the table after tea 
a gentleman of striking appearance came over 
from another table and touched Will on the 
shoulder. The latter, turning, exclaimed, as he 
cordially grasped the other’s hand: 

“Why, Everard, you here*? I thought you 
were in the heart of India,” and he presented 
him to his wife and Stella. 

“Ah! I understand now why no inducement 
could move you to accompany me. You are on a 
wedding-trip, I presume. ’ ’ 

When informed that the wedding-trip had 


STELLA HOPE 


293 


been taken almost a year previously, he said, 
pleasantly : 

‘‘That being the case, Mrs. Willonghby, I 
trust you will not consider me de trop if I crave 
the privilege of joining your party for a portion 
of the evening. Your husband, Weston, and 
myself have been much together in our lives/ ^ 

They found him a delightful acquisition. He 
was a man of charming manners, and to a nat- 
ural sprightliness he added all that is to be 
gained from extensive travels over three conti- 
nents, had seen much of cosmopolitan society, 
and was so full of pleasant reminiscences and 
anecdote that both Nellie and Stella were 
greatly entertained by his brilliant descrip- 
tions, interesting narrative, and good-humored 
witticisms. When he learned of their projected 
route, he said : 

“I once went over that same ground myself. 
I wish I might be allowed to join you at Que- 
bec.’’ 

“Then do so, my dear fellow, by all means. 
We shall be charmed to have you,” said Will. 

“With permission of the ladies,” he an- 
swered, looking at them deferentially, and 
waiting for them to second Will’s invitation. 
Nellie did second it cordially, but Stella only 
bowed silently, endeavoring for the sake of her 
entertainers not to show the sudden dissatisfac- 
tion she experienced. 

Mr. Everard was assuredly most cultured, 
most agreeable as a chance acquaintance, seen 
one day and gone the next ; but to have him as 


294 


STELLA HOPE 


one of the party for a portion of their travels 
would, she felt, deprive her of the chief pleas- 
ure of the trip — the free and unconstrained en- 
joyment of new scenes, with only Will and Nel- 
lie. The sad blight which had fallen upon her 
life made her especially reluctant to form new 
acquaintances; for the haunting thought was 
ever present, ^‘What if one could knowT’ and 
she always shrank from any allusion to her past 
or future with a thrill of intense pain and dis- 
quietude. 

When Mr. Everard parted from them that 
evening he said: consider myself very 

happy in saying au revoir instead of good-by.’’ 

Stella,” said Will when his friend was out 
of hearing, there is a good chance for any girl. 
I know of no more elegant, charming, and hon- 
orable gentleman than Hunter Everard. I was 
much with him at college, much during my trav- 
els in Europe, and have never known him to 
be guilty of any act unbecoming a preux chev- 
alier.^^ 

Nellie silently gave his arm a sly pinch. 

“What was it, little woman‘s why did you 
give me that admonitory check just now?” he 
asked when they had seen Stella to her room. 

“Do you want her to forget Weston? Here I 
have been endeavoring to revive his image, and 
now you are undoing my work. ’ ’ 

“Very far am I from wishing her to forget 
Weston, dear unhappy fellow; but you have 
adopted the wrong tactics. With you women- 
folk one must work by the rule of contraries. 


STELLA HOPE 


295 


Let her think there is no connivance on our 
part to bring them together, but that we are 
trying to make a match between her and Ever- 
ard; let us praise the latter unstintingly, and 
forthwith she will veer around and discover 
that Weston is a paragon and will begin to wish 
him again at her feet. ’ ’ 

Nellie raised her eyebrows and shrugged her 
shoulders at his theory, whereupon he con- 
tinued : 

‘‘You know, my dear, you would never have 
accepted me if you had not first had your tender 
sympathies aroused for the unfortunate crip- 
ple. Like Desdemona, you loved me for my mis- 
fortune ; or, did you all the while suspect me of 
being the impostor I afterward proved to be T ^ 
he asked teasingly. 

“How could you ever stretch your imagina- 
tion so far as to think I could love you for any- 
thing else than your misfortune?’’ she replied, 
leaning against his shoulder and looking up 
into his face with loving eyes. 


CHAPTEE XXXII 


A few afternoons later saw our tourist party 
steaming along the pellucid waters of Lake Su- 
perior, Nellie and Stella going into ecstasies 
over each new scene as the steamer glided over 
the waters, now nearing the land where the 
shore was precipitous, or putting out at a 
greater distance as some projecting rock or 
headland jutted out into the bosom of the lake. 

Will, knowing all the dangers of navigating 
this great inland sea — its fogs, its sudden and 
violent storms, its long reaches of towering rock 
walls, its blinding flurries of feathery snow, 
even before the end of summer — ^had left the 
choice to his wife and her cousin whether they 
would take the steamer or the Canadian Trans- 
continental ; the latter the safer, the former the 
more interesting route. 

They unhesitatingly chose the former, after 
Will, consulting some lake-faring men, had their 
assurance that at this particular season the 
dangers of the treacherous lake were at their 
minimum. 

He himself had made the trip once before; 
but smiled sympathetically at their rhapsodies 
as they admired the broad expanse of waters; 
the ever-varying colors — from emerald green 
to darkest blue — here reflecting with mirror-like 
distinctness the vivid brightness of the azure 
sky, and the white phantom of some passing 


STELLA HOPE 


297 


cloud; there, the rock-bound shore with its 
startling changes of color, the trap-rock clilfs, 
the dark impending forests upon their summits, 
and the defiant headlands, against which, as at 
Thunder Cape, the boiling waves dash them- 
selves in sudden tempests with Titanic fury. 

But it was while the crimson globe of the 
setting sun seemed to pause in order to con- 
template his refiected image before sinking into 
his watery bed and bidding half the world good- 
night, that the gorgeous beauty of Lake Su- 
perior reached its climax; when earth, air, sky 
and water combining their chromatic wonders, 
filled the heart with rapture and thankfulness 
for the glorious beauty of Nature and left the 
imagination nothing to wish for. 

When, finally, they left the steamer and took 
the train, the imaginative and intense nature of 
Stella was deeply stirred by the scenes through 
which they were passing. As the cars whirled 
along the level plains she looked out, musing 
upon the time when only savage beasts and still 
more savage men prowled over these frozen and 
inhospitable wastes; until the heroic Jesuit mis- 
sionaries began to push their discoveries toward 
the far west, winning the confidence and respect 
of the wild tribes by uncomplainingly sharing 
their dangers and privations ; by faithfully ful- 
filling with them their contracts, and by glorify- 
ing the religion of Jesus in their self-sacrificing 
and holy lives. 

It was upon the Plains of Abraham, while 
contemplating the dual monument to the heroic 


298 


STELLA HOPE 


Wolfe and the gallant Montcalm, that Hunter 
Everard joined them. 

Stella’s heart sank as she saw him; but the 
expression of pleasure upon his face was unmis- 
takable. From that time on he devoted himself 
with unconcealed admiration to her. When they 
were leaving Quebec he said to her : 

“How much I wish I could retain you here 
till the first deep snow. It is scarcely Quebec 
until one awakes on a cold January morning 
and finds the city snowed under a modern 
Herculaneum. You have no idea how exhil- 
arating it is, after being dug out, to hear ten 
thousand sleighbells, all tinkling together and 
mingling with the merry laughter of the society 
belles as, muffled in warm furs, they and their 
escorts dash by in their rapid sleighs. ’ ’ 

“You put it in a very attractive light; I have 
no doubt that it is charming,” she answered, 
smiling. “I think it would be interesting to 
watch the toboggans hashing down the chutes, 
though I imagine it would be something of a 
mixed pleasure to a novice. The sensation of 
the rapid descent must be distinctly uncomfort- 
able. ’ ’ 

“I believe the novices do sometimes pierce 
the frosty air with their shrieks. ’ ’ 

“And frantically but confidingly clasp their 
escorts,” interrupted Will, causing a laugh. 

At Montreal, Ottawa, and the Thousand 
Islands, Mr. Eiverard still kept with them ; and 
the truth was evident to all that he was deeply 
interested in Stella. 


STELLA HOPE 


299 


This discovery caused her exquisite pain and 
regret. She took an early occasion to acquaint 
him with the fact that she had given up every- 
thing that generally makes life attractive, to 
devote herself to the care and alleviation of 
human suffering, hoping to show him that as a 
professional nurse social convention had placed 
an insuperable barrier between her and such a 
favored darling of fortune as himself. 

But Hunter Everard was a true and noble 
man. Though he was at first shocked at what 
he deemed an unnecessary sacrifice of herself, 
he sought only the more earnestly to win her 
from such an immolation. 

But Stella had recognized the stubborn fact 
that, struggle against it as she might, her heart 
was unalterably fixed upon one whom her sensi- 
tive and honorable soul had forced her to re- 
nounce in a manner as merciless to herself as to 
him. 

She had a very high regard for her present 
suitor, however, and it was not in her nature 
to repulse coldly and cruelly the homage of an 
honorable love. She therefore determined to 
prevent, if not too late, the waste of such loyal 
affection upon herself. Moreover, the horrible 
burden of dishonor which was all the while 
crushing her spirit, in her opinion was enough 
to segregate her from her fellows as if the taint 
of leprosy were upon her; and frequently, in 
the dead hours of the night, awake or in unquiet 
slumber, the dread specter of disgrace hovered 
over her. 


300 


STELLA HOPE 


Nellie detected symptoms of a return to a con- 
dition similar to ker former collapse, and enter- 
ing her room one day came frankly to the point. 
Putting her arms affectionately around her 
young cousin she begged to be told the cause 
of her nervous perturbation. Then the unhappy 
victim, feeling it useless to deny, confessed that 
she was again threatened with her former 
trouble and that she wished to return imme- 
. diately to Mary Godwin. 

As soon as a reluctant consent had been ob- 
tained for her release, and she was preparing 
to leave them, Stella grew calmer ; and in the 
expectation of being relieved of Mr. Everard’s 
persistent suit she evinced a greater degree of 
cordiality, acquainting him at the same time of 
her near departure. 

Then it was, upon the moonlit bosom of beau- 
tiful Lake George, that he made to her an im- 
passioned declaration of his love, only to obtain 
from her an avowal of friendship, much in 
itself, but oh! how inadequate to satisfy one 
who has lavished a whole wealth of affection 
and homage upon an unresponsive object. 

When in some degree he had succeeded in 
suppressing his acute disappointment he said : 

^‘Ah! I see now how it is. You have already 
given your heart to another.” And she, in 
order that he might cherish no further hope, 
made no denial. 

He left them the next day. At parting he said 
to Will: 

^^My dear fellow, why did you not give me 


STELLA HOPE 


301 


some intimation of Miss Hope’s prior attach- 
ment ? It would have saved me infinite pain. ’ ’ 

Then Will, believing that Stella had relented 
toward Weston, immediately wrote the latter to 
meet her in New York and renew his suit. The 
result was, that shortly after the return to her 
hospital duties she was summoned to see a 
caller, and to her great surprise and sorrow that 
caller was no other than Weston. 

He was standing at the window, looking 
thoughtfully out; but at the sound of that well- 
remembered footstep, with quick impulsiveness 
he turned, his soul in his eyes, and held out both 
hands. 

‘‘Stella, dearest, is it true?” he asked, joyous 
expectation illuminating his features. 

“Is what true?” she inquired, pausing and 
laying one trembling, cold hand in his own, for 
a sudden fear seized her. 

“Do you not know what? Did you not au- 
thorize Will to write me ? ” 

“No,” she answered, turning very pale; “I 
have never remotely hinted at his writing you 
anything in connection with myself. What did 
he — did he write you?” 

‘ ‘ Oh, it does not matter in the least if you did 
not authorize him,” he answered bitterly. 
“Fool that I was to listen to the promptings of 
my own heart, and to come to you without your 
direct summons. And is this the welcome you 
give me after a separation of a whole year? 
Stella, can it be?” and he looked at her with 
sorrowful, reproachful eyes. 


302 


STELLA HOPE 


She hesitated painfully, and then said 
faintly : 

^‘As a friend — a dear, tried and faithful 
friend — I shall always he glad to welcome you. 
As a friend the remembrance of all you have 
been to me will ever be one of my dearest pos- 
sessions ; but — ^but — if you come with any other 
expectation, I am very sorry that you — that you 
came at all.’’ 

Weston stood silent, too disappointed for an 
immediate reply. He gazed sorrowfully upon 
her pale features, while his own were undergo- 
ing alternations of varying expressions. Her 
eyes were cast down to conceal the sharp an- 
guish of her soul, for the voice of love would 
fain have cried out to him and bidden him joyful 
welcome; but ah! that fatal barrier of shame, 
sundering her from all happiness, all hope! 
Oh! just to feel once more the firm support of 
those strong, sheltering arms ; to lean her weary 
head against that protecting bosom ! 

While Weston stood with her hand in his, 
looking down into her face, he was tempted to 
take her suddenly in his arms and tell her that 
he knew all, had known it all the while, and 
compel her by the power of his own unalterable 
devotion to submit to his will; to lay the burden 
of her wrongs and sufferings upon him, and 
then to go and bring the destroyer of her peace 
to public justice. 

He saw that the blight of this secret wrong 
was ruining her young life; and with no one 
authorized to make her cause his own, to fight 


STELLA HOPE 


303 


this battle for her, she was in danger of despair 
and madness. He was thinking these things 
when, with an effort to withdraw her hand, she 
glanced into his face. 

‘^Darling,’’ he cried suddenly, ‘‘yon do care 
for me. I read it in every lineament of your 
dear face ; but there is something that is divid- 
ing us which you will not tell me. Oh! Stella, 
Stella, he kind to me ; be just to me and to your- 
self. Tell me what is tMs mysterious barrier 
which is separating us. Give me the privilege 
and I will devote the untiring energies of my 
life to you. ’ ’ 

He suddenly ceased, for a wild terror was 
dilating her eyes, and a paleness as of death was 
settling upon her face. She would have fallen 
but that he caught her in his arms and placed 
her upon a sofa, fanning her vigorously till she 
opened her eyes. In a few minutes she had 
revived sufficiently to half rise, saying : 

“I am not well, and must leave you now.” 

“And may I not see you again when you are 
feeling stronger?” appealingly. 

“No; it is best that you should not. I cannot 
endure it. Besides, nothing can alter my deter- 
mination — at least, not yet; but if anything 
shall ever occur to cause me to change, I sol- 
emnly promise to summon you, unless you your- 
self change and no longer desire it. ’ ’ 

All this she spoke hesitatingly, being still 
faint; hut she was standing erect now, and he 
also. 

^‘Will you give me your hand, look me in the 


304 


STELLA HOPE 


face squarely, and swear it?” he asked with 
more of hope than he had before shown. 

^‘Yes, I swear it! let that content you,” she 
answered, laying her hand again in his. His 
other closed over it. 

^‘Must I go now?” 

^^Yes; it is best. Go now and do not try to 
see me again till I summon you. ’ ’ 

‘^Farewell then, 0 best-beloved. May that 
time come soon ! ” he whispered in a voice husky 
with emotion ; and stooping quickly, he imprint- 
ed a fervent kiss upon her trembling lips, and 
the next moment he was gone ; and the fair hope 
that Will’s letter had caused to blossom in his 
heart was gone also. 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


When Falmouth, the detective, started out to 
find the whereabouts of Morna Lea he encoun- 
tered some difficulty; for though the kind 
Mother Superior had procured a situation for 
her as governess to the children of a former 
graduate of that institution, Morna had failed 
to keep it more than a few months. 

The duties of the position had been com- 
paratively light, and the compensation amply 
sufficient for a young woman with no relative 
dependent on her and no debts. 

At first she had seemed pleased and grateful 
at the prospect of earning her own livelihood, 
and went at once to her post of duty. Atfairs 
went passably well for a few months, and then 
came a day when the young governess was 
moody and out of sorts. 

The routine was irksome to her; she longed 
for more movement, more excitement. The 
children were affected by her own lack of in- 
terest in the lessons, and a general contagion 
of discontent followed. The inexperienced gov- 
erness became unduly irritated, scolded at im- 
perfect recitations, and finally boxed the ears of 
one of the delinquents and he went screaming 
to his mother. The latter came to the school- 
room to inquire into the nature of her son^s 
offense, the impatient girl resented it, and be- 
19 


306 


STELLA HOPE 


came insolent. Words, calm on one side, vio- 
lent on the other, followed, and the governess 
was discharged, with a douceur of a month’s 
unearned wages. Thus the connection was sev- 
ered with no regret on either side. 

It was more difficult to find another situation, 
since her late patroness could give her no rec- 
ommendation, and she was ashamed to apply 
again to the Mother Superior. Her small 
amount of funds became quite exhausted by the 
time she secured another charge, and she now 
resolved to exercise more discipline over her- 
self; but unfortunately, she had not as gentle a 
patroness as her former one, and the children 
were spoilt and unruly. Again the result was 
dismissal after a trial of several months. 

This time she found herself, as it were, almost 
cast into the street, and was glad to accept any- 
thing that would afford a decent support. She 
bought a newspaper, and in the column of 
^ ^Wants’’ found an advertisement for a type- 
writer. As she had come to the conclusion some 
time before that teaching was not her proper 
vocation, she applied for the advertised posi- 
tion and obtained it. 

Her employer was a rather prosperous and 
well-favored grocer, and she made no inquiries 
as to his moral character, which, if she had taken 
the precaution to inquire into, she would have 
found to be not particularly savory. 

It was at this time that Falmouth made her 
acquaintance, introducing himself as an agent 
for a newly patented billing-machine. He did 


STELLA HOPE 


307 


not succeed in selling one to Hoskins, the young 
grocer, but made himself so agreeable to the 
typewriter as to be recognized by her with a 
smile the next morning when he placed himself 
in her way as she was going to her place of busi- 
ness. He made occasion to call again at the 
grocer’s on some pretext or other, and always 
contrived to speak with Morna Lea. Finally, 
he asked and obtained permission to visit her 
at her boarding-house. He affected the cynical, 
devil-may-care sort of fellow, making his con- 
versation as spicy and entertaining as possible ; 
and very soon was on quite intimate terms with 
her. 

As time went on it did not require all his pro- 
fessional discernment to discover that the girl 
was using every effort to ensnare into marriage 
the well-to-do young business man. 

She liked Falmouth for his superior men- 
tality and entertaining powers, but having 
tasted poverty, she had an eye to the main 
chance ; for Falmouth, in order to protect him- 
self from a too serious regard on her part, had 
confided to her that his own means were very 
narrow. 

Now the grocer had ambitious views in regard 
to a rich butcher’s daughter, but was very will- 
ing to meet his typewriter’s overtures more 
than half way. 

The young woman was unmistakably hand- 
some, after a beaut e-de-diahle style, and was 
both vivacious and capable. 

Falmouth now took occasion to inquire into 


308 


STELLA HOPE 


the antecedents of Hoskins and learned that 
his reputation was not of the best. 

Although Weston’s interests were always to 
be paramount, Falmouth could not see an 
unprotected girl go straight to ruin, and he ven- 
tured to warn her against her employer ; but she 
cut him short, and with decided emphasis ad- 
monished him to attend to his own business. 

It served Falmouth’s purposes best to take no 
otfense. He had performed his duty in warning 
her ; if she would go her own way, why go it she 
must. That was all. 

Thus the affair progressed; Morna deter- 
mined to win the grocer for a husband, and he 
was equally as determined to win the butcher’s 
daughter, but to accept this girl’s affections, if 
she would insist on lavishing them upon him- 
self ; while Falmouth was more determined than 
either to reap some advantage for himself and 
Weston out of the situation. But to do him 
justice, he made another effort to open the girl ’s 
eyes to the true character of Hoskins. 

Again he was rebuffed, more violently than 
before. 

have asked you to attend to your own 
affairs and let mine alone,” she said with 
vehemence. shall pursue my own course, 
though the Devil stand in the way ! ’ ’ 

To Falmouth this appeared sulBScient. He 
stepped back and made her a profound bow. 
From that time he affected a greater cynicism, 
and even jealousy; which last flattered her van- 
ity, and she continued to allow his visits. 


STELIiA HOPE 


309 


All along during the acquaintance, Falmouth 
had endeavored to find some pretext for draw- 
ing the girl out in such wise as to make her give 
a clue as to her feelings toward Stella Hope, 
and thus by induction to discover for himself 
whether she was capable of the terrible revenge 
he had no doubt she had perpetrated. But al- 
though she never suspected his true vocation 
she was extremely cautious and noncommittal 
as to her acquaintance and antecedents. 

Finding himself foiled, he now on one occa- 
sion turned the conversation deliberately on 
the subject of revenge. 

‘Hf you marry Hoskins I think I will be 
tempted to kill him,’’ he remarked, regarding 
her intently, yet as with the jealous eye of a 
slighted lover. 

She was pleased at the implied tribute to her 
charms. 

‘‘Why should you wish to kill him?” she 
asked, smiling in evident triumph. 

“For revenge!” he answered with assumed 
ferocity. 

She laughed aloud. 

“Ha, ha! that would not benefit you at all,” 
she replied. 

“Yes; for revenge is sweet. Hate is the one 
undying passion of strong men’s hearts,” said 
he. 

“And of some women’s, too,” she laughed 
harshly and vindictively. 

“Ah! women’s hearts are too soft to retain 


310 


STELLA HOPE 


resentments. Yon could never persuade me 
that your heart is not as wax, ’ ’ he replied. 

‘‘Not it,’’ she cried fiercely. “I could act 
Lady Macbeth to the very life if it served my 
purpose ! ’ ’ 

He answered with a laugh of incredulity and 
derision. This vexed her and she continued 
with increasing vehemence. 

“You do not believe me. But I declare 1 
would do anything to wreak vengeance on one 
who had wronged me. ’ ’ 

He still smiled incredulously as he answered : 

“You may think so now, but if it came to the 
test you would melt into tears and repent of 
having even harbored revengeful thoughts. I 
know women too well. ’ ’ 

“You don’t know me,” she flashed forth. “I 
would never repent — not even on my dying 
bed.” 

“That you say because you have never had 
any experience of being wronged or of taking 
revenge. Under actual proof you would be like 
all women — too cowardly to execute what you 
had dared to plan. ’ ’ This enraged her and she 
threw prudence to the winds. 

“I have done it already!” she exclaimed 
with flashing eyes. 

“Oh — ^h! did you whip a kitten for scratch- 
ing you!” he asked with the same provoking 
smile. 

“Kitten, indeed! No, I crushed the reptile 
that dared to rear its head before me. I 
scotched her in such a fashion that she will 


STELLA HOPE 


311 


never dare to crawl across my pathway again ! ’ ’ 
and her eyes snapped with pure hate. 

‘‘Give me your hand,’^ cried Falmouth with 
all the appearance of enthusiasm. “You are a 
girl after my own heart. Did she cheat you out 
of a lover I ^ ^ 

“Lover? — no. But by insinuating herself 
like the old serpent into the good graces of 
those fool Sisters at the convent, she cheated 
me out of well-earned honors. Oh ! but she will 
never enjoy them.’’ 

Beyond this he could get nothing further 
from her, but he considered it much ; and wrote 
to Weston of his success so far, and of the cer- 
tainty of Miss Hope’s innocence; but as to her 
public vindication, it might be very far off yet. 

This was about the time of Stella’s return 
from her Canadian tour, and Falmouth labored 
hard to bring Morna back to the subject of her 
attitude toward Miss Hope, but could get 
nothing more that was incriminating from her. 
She seemed to have repented of her one confi- 
dence and he could never bring her back to 
that subject; but he waited and watched. 

It was growing well on into the winter when 
he began to observe signs of a marked discon- 
tent about her. He was at a loss to understand 
the cause until he watched the movements of 
Hoskins and discovered that he was paying de- 
voted court to the butcher’s daughter. 

Whether Hoskins had ever broached the sub- 
ject of matrimony to his typewriter, Falmouth 
had no means of finding out ; but that she had in 


312 


STELLA HOPE 


some way gotten wind of his attentions to the 
young woman in question and was extremely 
jealous, he had no doubt. 

It was not long after this that affairs reached 
a crisis. From a dressmaker Morna learned 
that Miss Weller, the butcher’s daughter, was 
having her wedding clothes made, and the jeal- 
ous girl leaped to a very reasonable conclusion. 
It then appeared that Hoskins had really of- 
fered Morna some sort of a promise of mar- 
riage, and she boldly charged him with perfidy 
and threatened to prosecute him for breach of 
faith. Taking alarm lest the prize might slip 
from his grasp, the man, under pretext of im- 
mediate and urgent business abroad, urged a 
speedy marriage. The ceremony was scarcely 
completed and the happy pair well on their way 
to New York when the slighted employe of the 
groom learned of the consummation of the en- 
gagement. 

Frantic with disappointed hope and rage, 
she resolved to follow and wreak vengeance on 
the groom. Falmouth, under a disguise, fol- 
lowed and watched her every movement. He 
saw her purchase a revolver and he entertained 
no doubt that her intentions were deadly. For 
several hours, while waiting for the next train, 
the girl chafed like a caged tigress, and the 
more determined grew her expression. 

When she finally, after some unexpected de- 
lays, reached New York and discovered that the 
steamer only an hour previously had sailed, 
and she was cheated of her vengeance, as she 


STELLA HOPE 


313 


had been cheated of her lover, she became des- 
perate. With set face, and lips bine from com- 
pression, Falmouth beheld her turn away and 
seek the nearest drug store. He followed, and 
heard her ask and be refused a deadly poison 
unless she could furnish a physician ^s prescrip- 
tion. 

Laboring under the intensest excitement, she 
now entered a grocery, but he was too late to 
hear her demand. Then as she came out with a 
tin box unwrapped in her hand, it had the ap- 
pearance of a box of sardines, and his fears of 
suicide were allayed. 

thought he, ‘Mf she can eat, all is 

well. ’ ’ 

From this point she proceeded in search of a 
cheap hotel, and he heard her ask to be accom- 
modated with a room. When she obtained it, 
Falmouth preferred the same request, asking 
that he be given one as near the late applicant 
as possible, and was fortunate in securing an 
apartment adjoining Morna’s. Then he sat 
himself down to consider his future action. 

He had been weighing first one course and 
then another for perhaps twenty minutes, when 
he was startled to hear agonizing groans pro- 
ceeding from the girPs room. Hastening for 
some one in authority the door was forced, and 
the wretched young woman was found on the 
floor in mortal agony. The box she had pur- 
chased contained potash. 

While a physician was being summoned, and 
everything done for the would-be suicide ^s re- 


314 


STELLA HOPE 


lief, Falmouth dispatched a special messenger 
for Weston, who in this extremity was to de- 
cide what was most expedient to be done. 


CHAPTER XXXIV 


When, after Stella return from Canada, 
she had recovered from the disquieting effects 
of Weston’s presence and words, she fell back 
thankfully into the old routine of duty, recog- 
nizing that tranquillity, if not happiness, was 
the reward of her consecrated labors. Thus 
again passed the dreary autumn, and now win- 
ter, to her still more dreary, was nearing its 
last month. 

Weston had remained in New York that he 
might be near her, and frequently, through the 
connivance of Mary Godwin, whom he had 
taken into his confidence, he saw Stella without 
being himself recognized. But just at that time 
came intelligence from Falmouth; and while 
there had been no assurance of final success, 
the tone was hopeful, and Weston felt disposed 
to remain in New York rather than spend the 
winter elsewhere. 

One late afternoon, when the air was filled 
with invisible but penetrating needles of ice, he 
had just stepped out of his hotel for a walk, 
and was buttoning his overcoat, when he was 
run against by a messenger-boy, half blinded 
by the sudden turning on of the electric lights. 

‘‘Halloa! my young friend, take care that 
you don’t brain yourself,” was Weston’s 
cheery warning to the shivering, half-frozen 
youth. 


316 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘Beg pardon, but I was afraid of missing 
you. They pointed you out to me as you were 
leaving your hotel, and I was looking for you 
with an important message,’’ the boy replied 
apologetically. 

Weston received it, and read by the street 
light the message from Falmouth summoning 
him with all haste to a fifth-rate hotel near the 
wharf. 

Full of joyful hope he hailed a passing cab, 
and hurriedly drawing from his pocket a bank- 
bill, he thrust it into the messenger-boy’s hand. 

“There, take that, and buy yourself some- 
thing warm, ’ ’ he said, leaving the youth gaping 
with delighted astonishment at the generous 
tip. 

“Well!” Weston exclaimed half an hour 
later, as he grasped the extended hand of Fal- 
mouth, who was on the lookout for him. 

“Come with me,” was the only reply, as he 
was hurried along several hallways and stair- 
cases. At last he pushed open a door, motioned 
Weston to enter, and then cautiously closing 
the door, said, ‘ ‘ She is here. ’ ’ 

Weston turned excitedly toward him. 

“Here? What does that signify?” 

“Everything, or nothing, as the case may be 
managed, ’ ’ replied Falmouth calmly. 

“Let me hear all. Hurry up!” cried Wes- 
ton. 

Then the detective related as succinctly as 
possible all that had transpired since his last 
communication to him; and at the conclusion 


STELLA HOPE 


317 


his auditor asked breathlessly, ‘‘And what do 
you now proposed’ 

“To take the girl at once to the hospital 
where Miss Hope is on duty. To place her 
under the ministrations of the latter, and per- 
haps through gratitude for gentle nursing she 
may be brought to confess all ; especially if she 
dies,’’ he replied. 

Weston grasped his hand. 

“Whatever may be the result,” said he 
warmly, “you have earned your reward, and 
my everlasting gratitude. God grant the 
wretched girl’s life be prolonged sufficiently to 
make a confession, if she must die.” 

Weston did not delay a moment. Hastening 
to Mary Godwin, arrangements were speedily 
made to have Morna Lea placed under the care 
of Stella without acquainting the latter with 
the name of her prospective charge. 

Within a room somewhat apart, then, Morna 
Lea was placed by order of Mary Godwin, who 
was now chief in authority over a certain ward. 
The patient had been wildly delirious, but the 
transportation accomplished, she was now lying 
unconscious under the influence of a powerful 
anodyne. 

Stella did not go on duty till the second vigil. 
It was midnight when she entered the room and 
received the instructions for treatment. 

The light was low; and for more than an 
hour the sufferer did not wake, though she fre- 
quently moaned in her sleep; and Stella, sit- 
ting beside her, was dropping into a light doze 


318 


STELLA HOPE 


when her charge suddenly started np, crying 
with a shriek, 

^^Water, water! for God’s sake, water and 
fell back. 

The nurse sprang up, turned the light higher, 
and bringing the water, mixed with a palliative, 
was slipping an arm under the sufferer’s head 
to raise her, when the latter, seizing the glass, 
with the greatest avidity drained it to the last 
drop, crying out, 

^‘More, more!” 

But the nurse stood transfixed with shudder- 
ing repulsion as the patient raised her face. 

The recognition was simultaneous ; for 
Morna Lea was conscious now, and making a 
frantic but futile effort to spring from her 
couch, she cried, 

‘‘Stella Hope! you here! Have I passed to 
the abode of the lost and are you here to ac- 
cuse me before the Judge? Go away with your 
reproachful eyes ! Ho I not already suffer 
enough to satisfy a demon’s hate? I will not 
look upon you!” and she pressed her twitching 
hands before her eyes and sank back, cowering. 

The shock of recognition had for a few sec- 
onds almost paralyzed Stella ; but at the quasi- 
confession of her arch-enemy a joyful hope 
sprang up in her bosom, and she fell upon her 
knees beside Morna. 

“Oh! Morna, Morna! I entreat you as you 
hope for mercy in the final judgment, be merci- 
ful to me. Confess before witnesses, or only 


STELLA HOPE 


319 


witness, the wrong yon have done me, and 
I will forgive, and bless yon to my dying day. ’ ^ 

In her excitement, forgetting the relations of 
patient and nnrse, forgetting the weakened 
condition of the former, forgetting everything 
bnt her own grievons wrong, she seized the 
girPs hand entreatingly. Bnt Morna threw 
back the hand with all the violence of which she 
was capable, and screamed, 

^ ‘ Go away ! Go away ! I hate yon more than 
ever ! ’ ’ 

^‘Only confess, Morna, and I will love yon.” 

^Ht is a lie; it wonld be impossible for yon 
to love me. I know yon will mnrder me. ’ ’ 

Morna, if yon will only confess to the man 
who loves me, it is all I ask. Will yon, Morna 1 ’ ’ 
Never! never! nevee!” shrieked the girl 
with increasing vehemence. ^‘Eevenge is too 
sweet ! I will never repent, nor confess ! ’ ’ and 
she langhed in demoniac joy, even as she 
writhed in pain. 

Stella arose from her knees, saying in a 
broken voice, 

‘‘Then may God help me to forgive yon, and 
to remember only my dnties as nnrse.” 

It was now that the splendid training of the 
nnrse rose snperior to wronged hnman natnre ; 
for Stella, resolntely pntting aside all personal 
feeling, tnrned, and with steady hand bronght 
a sedative. After a qnick, searching glance, as 
if she feared poison, Morna drank it and fell at 
once into a deep slnmber, while the nnrse, keep- 
ing faithfnl vigil, sat and sadly pondered npon 


320 


STELLA HOPE 


the wreck of her own happiness wrought by this 
girl. 

To forgive her from the heart, to continue to 
nurse her, required almost superhuman 
strength; but when, toward morning, she 
raised her head, and gazed long and earnestly 
upon the features of the still more wrecked 
woman before her, she had gained the victory 
over self, and there was joy among the angels 
of heaven. 


CHAPTER XXXV 


Time, the never-pausing, irrevocable, yet 
passes with slower pace in the chambers of ihe 
sick than elsewhere; but weeks had crept by 
since the introduction of Morna Lea to the hos- 
pital in which Stella Hope ministered to the 
sutfering, and she was well enough to be dis- 
charged. She was going again into the great 
world and to become an adventuress of the 
most reckless stamp. 

Since that first night of mutual recognition 
she had never voluntarily addressed a word to 
her faithful and forbearing nurse, but accepted 
her services in sullen and determined silence. 
On one occasion she regarded her malevolently 
and said, 

^^You think to win me over and wring from 
me a voluntary confession. Let me tell you 
now, once for all, that you might as well expect 
to melt a block of granite as melt my heart to 
pity; for I swear, never through any consider- 
ation of entreaty, prayers, threats or money, 
to confess or repair any injury I have done 
you. To you, with none to hear me but your- 
self, I glory in declaring that I deliberately 
ruined you because you dared stand in my way. 
Now if you will persist in your unwelcome and 
hypocritical attentions, you will gain nothing 
but contempt added to hate,’’ 


20 


322 


STELLA HOPE 


Since that assurance the time had dragged 
with leaden pace; but with the duties of her 
training ever uppermost in her consciousness, 
Stella had never relaxed her ministrations, but 
sat night after night through her lonely vigils. 
Never a word of expressed impatience had es- 
caped her lips, though several times she had 
been compelled to summon higher authority to 
enforce submission on the part of the patient. 
Fortunately, to modify the strain of this un- 
happy period there came a letter from Nellie 
giving the recipient other things than her own 
trials to think of. 

Among other items, she learned that the 
family at Oaklands had been well and happy 
with the exception of Marie, who, having been so 
long practically deserted by her husband, was 
now suing for a divorce. Ethel had passed the 
greater part of the winter with Nellie herself 
in St. Louis, where she had been wonderfully 
popular and admired ; and she went on to tell of 
the great change in Ethel for the better, and 
how greater development of character could 
be hoped for if she might marry a man of noble 
character, such, for instance, as Mr. Everard, 
who now was in St. Louis. Ethel was now in 
New Orleans, however, whither she had gone to 
visit Rita during Mardi Gras, Rita’s engage- 
ment had been annulled, for some cause which 
she would not explain, but it was thought it was 
not broken hopelessly. 

Under the unremitting strain which Stella 
had so long been suffering she might have col- 


STELLA HOPE 


323 


lapsed but for the diversion caused by this let- 
ter, for the weather had been unseasonably 
warm and the number of nurses had been 
greatly reduced on account of a severe epidemic 
of la grippe and pneumonia in the city, while the 
proportion of patients had been unusually large 
for the corps left. Yet she bore up bravely till 
Morna’s discharge was given her, and then her 
heart sank. But Mary Godwin buoyed up her 
sinking spirits by telling her that in spite of the 
girl’s obdurateness, it was impossible she could 
leave the hospital where she had been saved as 
by a miracle and so kindly treated, without re- 
pairing the wrong she had done an innocent 
girl. 

It was an hour of terrible suspense when 
she saw Morna silently making her few prepa- 
rations for departure; recognizing, as she did, 
that once gone, her own hopes were blasted. 

Mary was almost as much wrought up as 
Stella, and Weston, who had been the motive 
power in the whole business, was watching with 
a consuming anxiety, and restlessness that was 
maddening, the play of the last card. 

But if Morna had felt any stirring of grati- 
tude, or awakening of conscience, she had given 
no sign; so now, ready to depart, she stood 
drawing on her gloves. 

The nervous tension upon Stella was too 
great to be borne with outward composure, and 
she now turned her face to the window to con- 
ceal her agitation. 

Morna put on one glove and looked toward 


324 


STELLA HOPE 


her late nurse. Then she drew on the other 
with exasperating slowness and glanced at 
Mary Godwin. Finally, she took up her hand- 
satchel and half turned toward the door. 

There was a sudden fearful tightening 
around the hearts of the two expectant women; 
and the younger could scarce refrain from cry- 
ing out under the tense excitement of the fate- 
ful moment. 

Morna took a step in the direction of the 
door, paused, moved again, and reached the 
threshold. There, for the last time pausing, 
she said, 

^^Good morning. Miss Godwin,” and stepping 
quickly into the hall, disappeared. A silence 
fell, and the two women looked despairingly at 
each other, both feeling that never again would 
they behold that evil countenance. 

Mary had prepared herself to see Stella, if 
disappointed, succumb; but she was not pre- 
pared for the fearfully long and unyielding 
swoon that followed. Even the physicians 
looked grave, and muttered something about 
‘ ‘ weak heart-action."’ ’ 

When finally she opened her eyes in con- 
sciousness, the senior physician, smiling kindly, 
said, 

^^Well, nurse, we began to fear you were go- 
ing to give us the slip. We cannot spare you 
very well, but you must take a rest.” 

Weston was as bitterly disappointed as even 
Stella herself, for upon her clearance of the 
charge imputed to her depended all his hopes 


STELLA HOPE 


325 


of happiness, knowing as he did that the high- 
spirited girl would never marry him with this 
stigma upon her fair fame. But fortunately he 
was tenacious of purpose, and he had solemnly 
sworn never to give up till she was righted. 

He had straitly charged Falmouth to hover 
around the hospital, and when Morna Lea left 
it to follow and locate her, immediately inform- 
ing him of her whereabouts, so that he might 
obtain an interview with her. 

Accordingly, only a few hours after her de- 
parture, the detective ’phoned him the desired 
information. To hail a passing cab and hurry 
to the place was Weston’s first care, but again 
he was to be disappointed; for the girl, en- 
dowed with much acuteness, fearing lest she be 
arrested and prosecuted, employed a ruse to 
throw any pursuers otf the track, and, after 
taking a room in an obscure boarding-house, 
went out apparently to look for work. Fal- 
mouth, himself deceived, now took the oppor- 
tunity to dine, but when he returned to keep 
watch • the bird had fiown. Additional detec- 
tives were now employed to discover her re- 
treat, but several days passed before she was 
located. 

At last perseverance had its reward. Weston 
dispatched a message to her requesting an in- 
terview, and she, believing it to be some one 
who wished to employ her, readily granted it, 
and so it came about that she entered his pres- 
ence with a gracious air. 

At sight of her, smiling and handsome, the 


326 


STELLA HOPE 


strong aversion with which she inspired him 
rose np most powerfully in his bosom, and he 
could scarcely refrain from accusing her of all 
the diablerie of which he knew her to be guilty, 
and turning her over to the tribunal of justice. 
But instantly recognizing that such a course 
would be highly impolitic, since he could not 
adduce positive proofs of her guilt, he smoth- 
ered his feelings of resentment and disgust. 

The opening of the interview was difficult for 
him, but after a very slight skirmishing he dis- 
covered that she was utterly destitute either of 
shame or remorse, — a moral pachyderm, — and 
he came at once to the point, asking her the di- 
rect question for what sum in ready money she 
would write and have sealed by a notary a full 
confession of the wrong she had done Stella 
Hope. 

Seeing that he knew her guilty, she did not 
deny it, but laughed in a maliciously defiant 
manner and challenged him to prove anything. 
Then driven to desperation at sight of her tri- 
umph, he threatened the full course of the law, 
and declared that Heaven would aid him in 
bringing retribution upon her. 

‘ ^ And failing to prove my guilt in open court, 
you will only succeed in fastening irretrievably 
upon her the theft, she cried, laughing vindic- 
tively ; and, himself assured of this, he desisted 
from threats. 

Suddenly she fell back in her chair and 
laughed with a horrible glee at some thought 
which appeared to have just struck her. He 


STELLA HOPE 


327 


regarded her silently with a look in which 
anger, scorn, and detestation were blended, and 
recognizing that it was all qnite hopeless, he 
caught np his hat and was striding from the 
room, when she said unexpectedly, 

‘‘Now hear my decision.’^ 

“I thought you had decided, he answered 
sharply. 

“I thought so too, hut I have just conceived 
a brilliant idea. Which, do you think, calls for 
a sweeter revenge, an earlier or a more recent 
offense r’ 

He disdained to answer and she continued, 

‘ ‘ I thought, until recently, that nothing 
within the experience of hatred could ever 
cause me to forego my revenge upon Stella 
Hope ; but a later and more grievous wrong is 
burning me up with the intensity of my desire 
to get even with the perpetrator. If, therefore, 
you will, on your part, swear a nolle prosequi 
and hand over to me l3efore the expiration of 
twenty-four hours, the sum in bank-bills of five 
thousand dollars, I will do all you ask to clear 
the reputation of that milk-and-water girl, who. 
I suppose, has promised you her hand as guer- 
don of your success in this matter.’’ 

“Very well; I agree upon the condition that 
you write two full confessions giving all the cir- 
cumstances, one for the Mother Superior of the 
convent and the other for Miss Hope, to be 
duly signed, and sealed by the notary, and 
handed me with one hand, while I place in the 
other the roll cf bills carefully counted out by 


328 


STELLA HOPE 


the cashier of Bank, before your eyes,” he 

replied unhesitatingly, rather surprised that 
her demands were no greater. 

She appeared much pleased with the result 
of the interview. 

“I will have the papers ready in an hour,” 
said she; then added, ^^You must love her in- 
deed,” an unexpected tone of tenderness soft- 
ening her voice. 

do,” he answered simply. 

‘‘Will you wait for the documents now, or 
will you return for them later!” she asked. 

“I will go now and return at the end of the 
hour if you really think you can have them 
ready in that limited space.” 

“Oh, I will have them ready; never fear,” 
and with that assurance, Weston went out. 

When he returned everything was ready, and 
boarding a car, she sitting at one end and he at 
the other, they repaired to the bank. 

She stood near enough to see that there was 
no mistake while the cashier counted out the 
amount in one-hundred-dollar bills, and then, 
having drawn a little apart, he handed her the 
roll of bills while she gave into his eager hand 
the folded documents. The transaction having 
thus been quickly completed, they parted at the 
door of the bank. 

Eejoicing in the belief that this would remove 
every obstacle to a speedy understanding with 
Stella, Weston went straight to Mary Godwin, 
and told her of the manner in which he had 
procured the confession. And she, believing 


STELLA HOPE 


329 


with him that there would now be no barrier 
to their union, rejoiced with him. But she de- 
murred when he required her to promise that 
she would never, now or at any other time, dis- 
close to Stella the fact that he had bought the 
confession, but she was to believe that Morna 
Lea had given it gratuitously. 

i<Por,’^ said he, ^4f she cannot love me for 
myself, no consideration of gratitude shall ever 
influence her.’’ 

And so, Mary, perforce, was reticent when 
she placed the package in Stella’s hand, letting 
her believe that it had been brought by the post- 
man. Then Mary went out and waited for the 
denouement. 


CHAPTER XXXVI 


Several weeks have passed and Stella is 
again at Oaklands; for Mrs. Haugliton and 
the whole family having received a full disclo- 
sure of her wrongs, sufferings and justification, 
she has been most lovingly welcomed into the 
bosom of the family. 

Hither were forwarded to her letters from 
the Mother Superior and the good Sisters ex- 
pressing the warmest sympathy and congratu- 
lations, with the promise of writing to all her 
schoolmates and acquainting them with the 
facts of the case; from all of whom, in the 
course of the following month, she heard to the 
same effect, many of them insisting on her 
making them a visit, and declaring that tliey 
had never violated the promise given to keep 
the whole matter from the public. 

This was exceedingly gratifying; and now, 
her innocence proven, her spirits rose, and she 
became gay and animated, enjoying to the full 
the life which till now she had regarded as 
valueless. 

Nellie was expected to remain several months 
and this too added to Stella’s happiness. 
She did not allow herself to speculate about 
the future, so full of content was she at the un- 
clouded present. Then Nellie and Will em- 
braced her with loving words of joy, and ex- 
tolled her heroic endurance, telling her they 


STELLA HOPE 


331 


would endeavor to make up to her her suffer- 
ings when she and Ethel went to spend the win- 
ter with them in St. Louis. 

^ Never had the name of Weston been men- 
tioned to her, and she had not inquired concern- 
ing him. He, alone, if he had known of her 
fiery trial and its recent removal, had not writ- 
ten. ‘Hs he,’’ she asked herself, ‘^waiting 
through delicacy for me to acquaint him with 
the whole sad affair?” She believed so, but 
could not gain her own consent to appear to 
bridge the chasm that separated them. So con- 
tent was she with the present that she resolved 
to wait passively and allow events to shape 
their own course. 

It was soon after the stork had visited Oak- 
lands, and a tiny form lay beside Nellie, the 
blissful young mother, that a letter came to 
Stella from Richard Stockton, to whom she had 
written explaining everything. He expressed 
in the strongest terms his indignation at the 
great wrong put upon her and his warmest ad- 
miration at the manner in which she deported 
herself under such an overwhelming burden of 
shame. He bade her, if she had any respect for 
his wishes, or any gratitude for his past bene- 
fits, never again to entertain the thought of a 
return to nursing, and assured her that he had 
at command ample means both for himself and 
for her, and that he desired her to take her 
rightful place in society, and, at least for a 
season, to enjoy to the full its pleasures and 
gaieties. 


332 


STELLA HOPE 


He added, that being himself of an incor- 
rigibly roving disposition, he was making prep- 
arations for returning to the Klondike, and 
had, in consequence of his projected absence, 
deposited in bank in St. Louis a considerable 
sum to her credit upon which she must draw 
unstintingly at her pleasure. A cheque for 
present needs accompanied the letter, which 
Stella, laughing tenderly at his quaint old- 
bachelor style of writing, and exclaiming in 
gratitude at his great kindness, placed in the 
hand of the family for perusal. 

‘‘Dear,’^ said Nellie, patting her hand, ‘‘you 
shall do just as the old darling says. You shall 
not know a want, a care, or a sorrow as long 
as love can ward them off. You must forget 
the dark experience of the last two years, and 
give full scope to the natural gaiety of a care- 
free young girl. For you have not only been 
defrauded of two years of innocent enjoyment, 
but have, in addition, had to bear a crushing 
weight of shame and sorrow that would have 
broken a heart less courageous.’’ 

And so it came to pass that with the early 
winter Ethel and Stella, beaming with the 
promise of a thousand pleasures and the antici- 
pation of the same, hied them to gay and hospit- 
able St. Louis. Ethel, having passed the pre- 
vious part of the winter there, was everywhere 
received as an old friend, and it was not long 
before Stella had gained for herself an equally 
favorable footing. 

Again she met Hunter Everard, and if he ad- 


STELLA HOPE 


333 


mired her when she was so depressed, doubly 
did he admire her now when she was all life and 
esprit, as he clearly perceived, beneath the gay 
exterior, a woman of profound feeling and 
noble aspirations. 

His eyes beamed with pleasure on meeting 
her in the element to which she rightly be- 
longed, and hearing nothing of an engage- 
ment, — indeed, being assured that there was 
none, — ^he assiduously renewed his suit, un- 
daunted by her former dismissal of him when 
under the shadow of a great misfortune; for 
Will had told him all the circumstances con- 
nected with that unhappy period. Thus, with 
the fond hope of winning her for his own, he 
pressed, gently but persistently his attentions 
upon her. Never had he met a woman, not even 
the beauties of foreign courts, — for he had been 
an attache at a brilliant court, — who had so im- 
pressed him with her possibilities. 

And where was Weston all this while, when, 
apparently nearer the realization of his dreams, 
he seemed to have relinquished the pursuit and 
allowed a formidable rival to sue for her fa- 
vor? 

He had thought it wiser, on her coming into 
possession of Morna’s confession, to absent 
himself for a while to give her time to recover 
her mental equilibrium and her former elastic- 
ity of spirits, and to dissociate himself entirely 
from the period of her deepest trouble, lest she 
come to identify him with it. He foresaw that 
until she could do this she would be in no com 


334 


STELLA HOPE 


dition to accept his addresses, much less to de- 
cide on so momentous a question as marriage. 

With this course in view he had not come to 
her in her hour of rejoicing, being content to let 
her remember that he had sought her in the 
dark period of her humiliation and distress. 
And so, leaving her at Oaklands, safe, he had 
gone West to discover if he might still dare to 
personate her long-absent uncle. 

It was in Seattle, while endeavoring to trace 
this individual, that he wrote the letter bidding 
her cast otf all care and look to him. 

From city to city of the far West he traveled, 
always with the same object, the quest of Rich- 
ard Stockton ; and always with the same result, 
failure. Once or twice, at mining camps, he 
had come upon remote traces of him, but gen- 
erally from some old miner or prospector who 
had known him years before, lost sight of him, 
and almost forgotten him. At last Weston came 
to the conclusion, which caused him to breathe 
more freely, that Stockton had dropped out of 
existence somewhere, and that no one knew of 
the resting-place that he had found after so 
many futile wanderings. He did indeed happen 
upon one Klondiker of unreliable reputation for 
veracity who declared that he had known one 
Hick Stockton in Alaska; that he had died of 
exposure, and been buried in that inhospitable 
region. 

With this intelligence he felt sufficiently justi- 
fied in continuing his acts of beneficence toward 
Stella, hoping and believing that her maternal 


STELLA HOPE 


335 


relative would at any rate not turn up until he 
himself, as her husband, might be able to ac- 
knowledge that he had taken it upon himself to 
stand in the shoes and discharge the duties of a 
kinsman. 

Then learning through a letter from Will that 
Stella was in St. Louis and receiving much at- 
tention from half a score of admirers, especially 
Everard, he deemed it time to bring himself 
again to her notice. 

He did not, however, present himself imme- 
diately upon his arrival. He chose rather to 
come upon her suddenly and to observe the ef- 
fect. 

Accordingly, it was at a box-party, when sur- 
rounded by half a dozen young men and women 
with Everard as her escort, that he entered the 
theater, and with opera-glass in hand watched 
her for some little while as she sat, now ab- 
sorbed in the play, and now exchanging bright 
sallies with her neighbors. 

His heart was throbbing vigorously as he 
sought the box; but he paused at the entrance 
and pulled himself together manfully before ac- 
costing her. The play was The Lady of Lyons, 
and Pauline was just saying, 

“Tell him 

For years, I have not nursed a thought 
That was not his,” 

and upon Stella ’s features the expression of the 
consummate actress was being reproduced when 
he put his hand on the back of her chair, and 
leaning over, said in a low voice, 


336 


STELLA HOPE 


‘‘Has Miss Hope a word of welcome for an 
old friend P’ 

She looked up, startled, and a quick flush of 
surprise and pleasure deepened on her cheek, 
as, with eyes that sparkled, she half turned in 
her seat, and extending her hand impulsively, 
exclaimed, 

“Why, Mr. Weston! I am delighted to see 
you. When did you comeP’ 

Mr. Everard rose to his feet. 

“Here,” he whispered, seizing Weston’s 
hand, and almost drawing him down into the 
seat he had vacated, ‘ ‘ take my place for a little 
while. Far be it from me to deny a newly ar- 
rived friend such a favor,” and before Weston 
could refuse, Everard had moved forward and 
taken a seat at the farther end of the box, and 
Weston found himself beside Stella. 

Before he again spoke, his quick and appre- 
ciative eye took in the elegant details of her ex- 
quisite toilette, and his heart throbbed warmly 
at a thought, unshared by any, that crossed his 
mind. Noting his glance, rapid as it was, she 
said softly, with a tinge of momentary embar- 
rassment, 

“My costume is somewhat changed since last 
you saw me. ’ ’ 

“Thank a just Heaven for it!” he murmured 
with deep feeling. 

‘ ‘ And you know the cause 1 ’ ’ she asked, hast- 
ening to settle the question at once. 

“Yes; and may never another shadow of 


STELLA HOPE 


337 


wrong or sorrow rest over your dear head, ’ ’ he 
whispered fervently. 

For a few moments both play and players 
were forgotten. Then, that their conversation, 
though ever so softly spoken, might not disturb 
their neighbors, they directed their glances to 
the stage, though their thoughts were far from 
being concentrated thereon. During the entr* 
acte he exchanged greetings with all the party, 
with whom he was acquainted, leaving no oppor- 
tunity for further converse with Stella, except 
to make appointment for a call the following 
day ; and when the curtain rose he relinquished 
his seat to Everard with an appreciative hand- 
shake, and bowed himself out. 


21 


CHAPTER XXXVII 


‘^And has the nomad pitched his tent for a 
season? or will he at the advent of spring again 
be off Hor fresh woods and pastures new’?’’ 
Stella asked laughingly, the next day, in greet- 
ing. 

‘Ht depends,” he answered, looking her in 
the face significantly. 

It was quite useless to appear unconscious 
of his meaning; but she endeavored to change 
the subject. 

^^No,” said he, you shall not get away from 
what I have to say. I have come with the defi- 
nite purpose of telling you that though so long 
absent from your side, I have waited merely to 
give you time for reflection. You must know 
that there has never been the least shadow of 
turning from my suit. Nor will I ever give up 
hope till I see you the bride of another. ’ ’ And 
upon his face she read the look of unalterable 
determination. 

‘^So, renouncing the role of comet, you are 
now to become a fixed star,” she laughed ner- 
vously, still endeavoring to side-track him. 

‘‘Yes, relatively, since you are my Polaris. 
Stella, dear Stella,” he broke out impatiently, 
“why cannot you return my love? It has been 
so long and so devotedly bestowed upon you. ’ ’ 

“I do love you, very truly — as a dear and 
valued friend.” 


STELLA HOPE 


339 


His countenance lengthened visibly, and she 
exclaimed rallying, 

‘‘There now, donT look so ‘down in the 
mouth, ^ as Aunt Patsy used to say. You donT 
know how much handsomer you are when you 
smile and look happy. ’ ’ 

“Then make me happy, and my whole life 
shall be ‘one long, sweet smile/ he answered. 
“Stella, you might as well be serious. No jok- 
ing will turn me from my purpose. Tell me, 
are you beginning to care for EverardP’ 

‘ ‘ I deny your right to question me, ’ ’ with as- 
sumed dignity, but he caught a gleam of humor 
in her eye and replied, 

“I claim the right, as an old friend if not as 
a lover, and you must tell me. ’ ’ 

“By what compulsion must I! Make me, if 
you can.’’ 

“I will,” he cried, and caught her hand. “I 
will not release it till you tell me the truth. ’ ’ 

“Yes, then.’’ 

He dropped it as if it had been a coal of fire 
and his face grew anguished. She relented a 
little. 

“Yes; I am beginning to care for him, also 
as a valued friend. ’ ’ 

“No more % ’ ’ eagerly. 

“No more; no less.” 

“Ah then, I breathe more freely. But he 
loves you?” 

“So he gives me to understand.” 

‘^So,” and there was despondence in his 
voice. 


340 


STELLA HOPE 


you not consider yourself as capable of 
inspiring love as Mr. EverardP’ she asked, 
looking at him in a way that should have raised 
his hopes. 

‘ ^ No. At least our chances are not equal ; for 
he started in the race long after I did. ^ ^ 

‘Ht appears to me that should give you the 
advantage. ’ ’ 

^‘Oh, no. A woman is always carried away 
by everything new/^ he answered in some bit- 
terness. 

Here the conversation was interrupted by the 
entrance of a gay party just returned from 
sleighing, and he took his departure along with 
the other men. 

It was the same way in the weeks, that fol- 
lowed. Everard continued his assiduous at- 
tentions, and succeeded oftener than himself in 
becoming her escort to balls and box-parties, 
driving and skating; so that sometimes Weston 
bitterly accused himself of being a laggard in 
the pursuit for allowing his now acknowledged 
rival to get ahead of him. He even went so far 
as to tell her that she connived at it, and to re- 
proach her for coquetry. 

She saw that he was becoming jealous of 
Everard, and to punish him sometimes for such 
a visible display of it, tantalized him still more. 

One evening, at a ball given in her own and 
EthePs honor, she waltzed twice with Everard 
before granting Weston one number. Was it, 
he asked himself, because she still remembered 
his waltzing so long ago with Rita, and wished 


STELLA HOPE 


341 


now to retaliate? If she really wished to make 
him suffer, surely she was getting in her re- 
venge, for the iron entered deeply into his soul 
every time she danced with Everard, and his 
blanched face showed his agony. He bit his 
lip till the blood started, and such a scowl as 
she never expected to see on his face rested 
there as her partner at last seated her near 
where Weston was standing. She saw the look 
that he cast on his former friend, and she grew 
suddenly disturbed as the thought came to her 
that she was not merely paying him back, but 
causing estrangement between friends of long 
standing. So, feeling contrite, she contrived 
soon to catch his eye as he stood coldly aloof, 
and beckoned him to approach. He did so, but 
sulkily enough. 

can give you the next number, if you wish 
it,’’ she said. 

am not so sure that I want it,” he an- 
swered bitterly, almost rudely. 

‘‘Very well then; Mr. Barrington has asked 
me to arrange for him, and if you — ” 

He did not wait for her to finish, but seizing 
her hand, led her out upon the floor. 

In his bitter-sweet resentment he felt as if he 
would like to crush her till she should cry out; 
but gradually, as the soft rhythm and sway of 
the triple measure soothed Ms ruffled feelings, 
he would have been content to whirl on, and on, 
forever. He even thought of McLeod of Dare, 
in his mad race with the storm, bearing away 
his reluctant love to certain death upon the 


342 


STELLA HOPE 


jagged rocks of the Hebridean Isles, in the 
death-struggle with the raging waves. Later, 
he led her into the conservatory, his jealousy 
but half appeased. 

‘H forgot to tell you,’’ she said suddenly, 
when they were seated apart, ‘‘that we are ex- 
pecting Rita very soon. ’ ’ 

“When?” he asked, pretending a much live- 
lier interest than he really felt. 

“Immediately after Christmas. I see how 
charmed you are, though you are endeavoring 
to conceal it.” 

“I am pleased. I have always admired her 
very much. ’ ’ 

“So I am aware. With a little encourage- 
ment from her you would soon be at her feet 
again,” and now his very soul exulted as he 
thought he detected a trace of jealousy on her 
part. 

“I have never understood why the engage- 
ment between her and her fiance was broken; 
do you know?” 

“Perhaps it was on your account,” she an- 
swered, regarding him searchingly. 

“Mine? You flatter me. I went to New Or- 
leans, it is true, and visited her in her own 
home, but it was business of a different nature 
that took me to the city. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Then you did seek her out ? ’ ’ 

“Certainly. She had invited me to call if I 
should ever be in the city, and I would have 
been wanting in polite attention if I had not 
done so. Besides, as I have said, I like and ad- 


STELLA HOPE 


343 


mire her greatly. She is a true woman, and has 
less coquetry in her nature than some I know. ’ ’ 

‘‘Not even excepting present company P’ 

“Not even excepting present company,’^ with 
emphasis. 

“Thank you. But interesting as your con- 
versation is, I must return to my engagements. 
Come. ’ ’ 

And thus, at cross-purposes they returned to 
the ball-room. 

Rita came, just after the holidays, and Stella 
was truly delighted to meet her again under her 
own changed circumstances. Her letter of con- 
gratulation had been so sympathetic, so sweet 
and loving, that she cherished it still with 
grateful care. Not even the report that Weston 
had, within the last year, visited her with mat- 
rimonial intention, could chill her toward this 
warm-hearted girl. 

“My dear, persecuted, heroic darling, how 
transported I am to see you looking so well,^ so 
beautiful, and so happy,’’ was Rita’s greeting 
as she held Stella lovingly for a few seconds in 
a close embrace. And Stella returned the caress 
with equal warmth and sincerity. 

“Give me another kiss, dear,” said Nellie. 
“I am so grateful to you for making me a visit 
in my own house ; but come right away, I must 
show you its greatest treasure without delay,” 
and she proudly led the way to the nursery, 
where baby Catharine lay asleep in her cradle, 
looking like. a pearl in its shell. 


344 


STELLA HOPE 


Rita, in her ecstasy, would not allow the little 
creature to continue its slumber, but caught it 
up impulsively to her own bosom. The child, 
soft and warm, cuddled in her arms, and the lit- 
tle curly head dropped confidingly on the beau- 
tiful woman’s shoulder, making a picture that 
would have charmed the eyes of a Le Brun. 
Then the violet eyes closed again, and the little 
one was back to that ‘‘heaven that lies about us 
in our infancy.” 

Ethel linked her arm affectionately in that of 
Rita. “Come,” said she, “it is nine, and you 
have your toilette to make. There are half a 
dozen of the men vying with each other as to 
which shall make the first engagement with you. 
Each one wishes to secure you for the hal du 
saisofiy at Mrs. Cordell’s, next week.” 

“How truly glad I am to see Stella in her 
natural sphere and that she has given up that 
foolish notion of nursing. She is so well quali- 
fied to adorn society, and she has become really 
beautiful.” 

“She is entirely a changed creature. None 
so bright and so witty as herself. All the men 
admire her extravagantly. ’ ’ 

“And Mr. Weston, does he still pursue her?” 

“He is madly in love, and is jealous to a de- 
gree of a Mr. Everard.” 

“Will he win her at last, do you think?” 

“There is no telling. Stella has wonderful 
control over her feelings ; must have acquired it 
in training; but I think it will be either he or 
Mr. Everard,” and at the latter name an in- 


STELLA HOPE 


345 


voluntary sigh escaped her that was not lost on 
Eita. 

^‘Then I hope it will be Weston — Mr. Wil- 
loughby. He has loved her so long and so faith- 
fully. ’ ’ 

‘‘Dame Eumor had it a year ago that he was 
in New Orleans paying his addresses to you.’’ 

Eita laughed. 

“To me! Dear, dear. Dame Eumor ’s hun- 
dred tongues are no exaggeration. He was 
there on some financial business, and saw me 
twice. I was half offended that his whole con- 
versation, nearly, was about Stella. Voila 
tout/^ 

“You must tell her so; for I think the report 
has had its influence. I sometimes believe she 
encourages Mr. Everard to score against Wes- 
ton.” 

“Indeed then, I will; for he simply adores 
her. ’ ’ 

The weeks that followed were a continuous 
whirl of gaiety, the votaries of fashion and 
pleasure appearing to contrive how much fes- 
tivity might be brought into the weeks before 
Lent. 

There had been, immediately after the re- 
moval of Stella’s crushing burden, a violent re- 
action from the gloomy to the gay and joyous 
side of life; but now she found such excess of 
gaiety palling, and the pendulum was swinging 
back to her normal condition — that of a thought- 
ful, earnest womanhood. 

Mr. Everard ’s persistent suit was becoming a 
gene, since she now fully recognized that her 


346 


STELLA HOPE 


heart remained unresponsive. She chid her- 
self that she had allowed matters to go so far, 
as it daily became more difficult to tell him the 
truth, and it was so repugnant to her frank na- 
ture that he must think her a vain coquette. 

Somewhat believing the tale of Weston’s re- 
puted courtship of Rita, before Rita herself had 
denied it, she had been half willing that Ever- 
ard should win her love, if he could. Now, how- 
ever, she knew that his efforts in that direction 
were futile, and to undeceive him cost her a 
painful anticipation. 

A hal masque was now on the tapis, and the 
young women and young men of their set were 
agog over it. Will and Nellie were the givers, 
and they had ordered that all the arrangements 
should be unique, as well as perfect. The cos- 
tumes were to be elaborate, and two prizes, 
one for the most original of either sex, were to 
be awarded, the men vying with the women in 
ingenuity and versimilitude to the original 
model. Consequently, there were characters 
taken from ancient and modern history, litera- 
ture, mythology, and even the animal and vege- 
table kingdoms; and spirits of earth, air, and 
water. 

Weston was determined to discover the iden- 
tity of Stella, for it had been arranged that 
whatsoever swain should succeed in such recog- 
nition was to be entitled to attach himself to 
tha,t partly if so he elected, up to the time of the 


STELLA HOPE 


347 


unmasking, which was to be promptly at twelve 
o ’clock. 

Weston himself was resplendent in barbaric 
costume as Alaric, the Gioth. He felt assured 
that Stella would appear in some puzzling char- 
acter, and for days beforehand he ran over, in 
thought all the striking personages of ancient 
and modern times that he believed would appeal 
to her fancy. But one after another he dis- 
carded the Zenobias, Boadiceas, Valkyries, 
Druidical Priestesses, et id omne genus, and 
when he had exhausted the list of all he remem- 
bered, he found himself as tantalizingly far olf 
as ever. Clearly, he would have to wait for the 
procession to pass before he could get an ink- 
ling. 

The much-anticipated evening drew on at last, 
and to the blare of trumpets a martial proces- 
sion of knights and heroes marched in and took 
their stand in a circle. Then to a marche 
mystique the procession of dames followed. 
This was to march once round the large interior 
circuit, face about, and march back, so as to af- 
ford the male masquers a better opportunity to 
recognize and select a partner. This procession 
had gone its whole length once before Weston 
could even suspect wMch masque might be 
Stella. He had thought he might detect her by 
her gait and figure, but so many of the dames 
were so much bedraped, and their march was so 
slow and measured to the music, that this was 
impossible. Half a dozen times he would be 
about to say, 'Ht is she,” and join her, when, 


348 


STELLA HOPE 


uncertain, he would forbear, and suffer her to 
pass by and be claimed by another. 

Suddenly, however, without any other indi- 
cation than the promptings of his heart, irreso- 
lution all gone, he attached himself to Comedy, 
and taking her arm masterfully in his own, 
whispered, 

‘‘My heart instructs me better than mine 
eyes. ’ ’ 

“ ‘He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool,’ 
saith the proverb,” was the answer; and 
Comedy endeavored to pass by him and escape. 

But Alaric answered, 

“Nay; Mistress Comedy can escape when I 
am convinced of mistaken identity. Now she 
must listen. Alaric lays down the law in rude 
fashion, maybe, but his prisoner must submit to 
the terms of ransom. Come, then. Comedia 
Divina,” and Comedy offered no further re- 
sistance, but accompanied the Conqueror to a 
quiet little nook which, screened from open 
view by some light trailing vines, was unoccu- 
pied save by themselves. 

“Comedy,” said Alaric, when they were 
seated, “you know me, and you know all the fer- 
vor of my heart’s love. You know that I have 
loved you since we first met, and now I have 
come to the point where, if you deliberately re- 
ject my love, there will be nought left me but to 
make Tragedy my bride. Be serious for once, 
dear Comedy, and tell me if he is not to be re- 
warded who would lay down his life for you.” 


STELLA HOPE 


349 


He had slipped his hand upon her own, and 
pressing it softly, repeated, 

‘‘Eemember how long I have loved you.” 
There was no response in words, but he felt 
the hand that lay in his tremble. He pressed it 
to his lips and asked tenderly, 

‘‘You do care for me, dear, do you notP^ 
“Yes,” came an agitated answer, and Alaric, 
transported, was lifting the masque to kiss the 
lips that had uttered the sweet monosyllable, 
when Comedy, pushing it aside completely, re- 
vealed the laughing face of Rita. 

Alaric opened his mouth to speak, but ere he 
could recover from his surprise. Comedy, with 
a quick movement, curtsied low, and slipping 
past him disappeared in the crowd. ' 

‘ ‘ Great king of blunderers ! suppose she takes 
me in earnest, and thinks I meant a bona-fide 
declaration to herself. How shall I extricate 
myself from such an embarrassing situation! 
But find her and undeceive her I must, for if 
Stella hears of it she will believe I spoke wit- 
tingly, ’ ’ exclaimed Alaric to himself, and imme- 
diately plunged into the crowd to find Comedy 
once more. ' 

In vain he went hither and thither, up and 
down, but he could not for some considerable 
time catch so much as a glimpse of her. . But at 
last liis search was rewarded and he came upon 
her suddenly near where he had declared him- 
self. He touched her on the arm, saying, 

‘ ‘ Please give me but five minutes more. There 
is something of importance I wish to say to 


350 


STELLA HOPE 


you,’’ and she accompanied him silently. He 
scarcely knew how to begin. It was not till she 
said, 

bien; monsieur, commencez/^ that he 
said stammeringly. 

Mademoiselle Comedie, pray believe me, 
that what I said to you a little while ago was 
intended for the ear of another.” 

^Hndeed? Then I am to infer that all your 
words have meant nothing, and that you have 
been playing with my atfectionsl” 

The questioning voice was serious, even se- 
vere ; and Alaric stood for a moment undecided 
what to say next. Could it be possible that RHa 
had a tender spot in her heart for him and had 
been willing to accept his vows of love? 
Really — 

— I — ^beg a thousand pardons,” he began 
awkwardly, ^‘but I — I thought I knew you. It 
appears I was mistaken. Will you — will you 
kindly consider those words unspoken?” 

‘‘Then you have really never cared for me? 
Has it been a pretense all along?” 

“I hope you have not thought — ” 

“Thought what, sir?” 

“That my attentions meant anything more 
than — ” 

“But your words, sir.” 

“My words — I must retract — I am afraid — ” 
“Very well, sir; from this time forth — ” 

“Ah, I entreat you to pardon a mistake — ” 
“I do so with pleasure. I have never be- 


STELLA HOPE 


351 


lieved that you really cared for me. Let us 
from this time forth he as strangers — ’’ 

The voice had changed strangely as she spoke. 
Alaric raised his hand suddenly, gave a dex- 
terous little jerk to the masque and lifted it. 
The face beneath was StelWs. 

“So,’’ said she, brimming with mirth, “you 
have confessed to the truth at last ! It is well, 
sir,” and she also slipped away, leaving him 
astonished. 

“Well,” exclaimed he, “if this is not a 
Comedy of Errors I don’t know what it could he 
called!” and he walked away vexed but smil- 
ing, recognizing that it had been a put-up trick 
between Stella and Pita. 

Later, when Stella was chaffing him, he said, 
laughingly, 

“At any rate, you see that you are not the 
only rose on the bush.” 

“Why don’t you use the classic phrase, ‘the 
only pebble on the beach ’ ! ” 

“It would be more appropriate, since your 
heart is as hard as a stone.” 

She laughed lightly, and smiling at him tan- 
talizingly said, 

‘ ‘ I am quite ready to admit that you are some- 
thing above the ordinary.” 

“What?” 

“A night-blooming serious 

“A blooming idiot,” he growled. 

“Eor whyf with a mocking glance. 

“I ought to be taken out and shot, for dang- 


352 


STELLA HOPE 


ling after a woman who only uses me as a butt 
for her heartless railleries.’’ 

‘‘You couldn’t be shot on a charge of deser- 
tion/^ she murmured softly. 

‘ ‘ Stella, ’ ’ he cried suddenly, seizing her hand 
and crushing it in his own, “why do you keep 
me on the rack? Why do you not either accept 
me or send me adrift?” 

“For a good and simple reason. I like you 
too well to suffer you to become a derelict, and 
yet not assuredly enough to trust myself to 
your pilotage on the great deeps of matri- 
mony. ’ ’ 

“But you surely should know me in all these 
years ? ’ ’ 

“No; I must watch and wait, 

“ ‘Till such a tide, as moving, seems asleep. 

Too full for sound or foam — 

shall sweep me off my feet, and hear me away 
irresistibly on its bosom, trustful and un- 
afraid,” she said smilingly, but regarding him 
earnestly. 

“What can I do more than I have done to 
prove my love?” he asked bitterly, remember- 
ing all that he had really done. 

A pang smote her as she saw his expression, 
and it touched her, all unconscious of what that 
reality was ; and she laid her hand almost ten- 
derly upon his arm. 

“I have a proposition to make to you,” she 
said softly. “If you will not mention the sub- 
ject to me again for six months I will take that 


STELLA HOPE 


353 


period for an earnest consideration; and prob- 
ably at the expiration of that time I shall be 
able to decide. ’ ’ 

‘‘Six months! six aeons I 
Ignoring his exclamation, she continued, 
“You see, I had a great deal to forget; and 
after we met again, and you — ^you began to 
make love to me, as a woman, I had to go back 
to those early days and come down to the pres- 
ent by another pathway; and — and — ^just as I 
was about to take up the thread where it had 
been broken, that terrible stroke fell, and put 
an end to everything, almost reason, or life it- 
self. Then the sudden lifting of that horrible 
nightmare was so sudden and unexpected that 
it left me dazed and bewildered, so that I hardly 
dared say to myself, ‘Is this really IP without 
fearing that another bolt might fall and shat- 
ter my very being. Can you wonder that I re- 
quire time to know myselH” 

He put out a hand impulsively and laid it 
with almost a paternal tenderness on her head. 

“Pray forgive me. I know I am an impatient 
and inconsiderate fool to annoy you. It shall 
be as you say.’’ 

She remarked his expression of deep disap- 
pointment, however, and continued,^ 

“Do you not see that my heart is not in all 
this frivolity! That I am using it rather as a 
passetemps, till I can fathom the depths, or 
perhaps the shallows, of my nature!” 


22 


354 


STELLA HOPE 


^ ^ Take your time ; only do come to a decision 
at the end of it, ’ ’ he replied. 

will. Besides,’’ smiling archly, ‘Hhere is 
another momentous matter for me to decide. ’ ’ 

‘‘What is it?” he asked, much wondering. 

“There’s Mr. Bloomington.” 

The strain on Weston relaxed, and he threw 
back his head and laughed. 

“Well, I should retire in favor of that rival. 
Stella, I really believe you have a little coquetry 
in your composition.” 

“Why, he’s very handsome, isn’t he?” 

“As the waxen face of a tailor’s model is 
handsome; and quite as expressionless.” 

“And he has, it is affirmed, immense wealth.” 

“Hush, hush! I will not listen to such out- 
rageous trifling. I have no fear of Blooming- 
ton. Would I could say as much of Everard.” 

‘ ‘ Ah ! there is a man to admire. ’ ’ 

Weston grew instantly grave again. 

“I grant it,” he said gloomily, and half 
turned away. 

“Let me tell you a little secret,” she whis- 
pered. 

“What is it?” 

“I have at last, and finally, given him his 
conge/ ^ and added, “with a push toward 
Ethel.” 

‘ ‘ Thank God ! ’ ’ and mountains seemed to roll 
away from his breast. 

Bloomington, flushed and hurried with eager 
quest, here burst in upon them. 


STELLA HOPE 


355 


‘‘I have sought you everywhere, Miss Hope; 
our number is nearly ended/’ 

‘Hs it? I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it had 
been so long. I beg your pardon, ’ ’ and giving 
him her hand, she went, casting a glance over 
her shoulder at Weston that consoled him for 
her departure. 


CHAPTEE XXXVIII 


The last social affair of the season, before 
Lent, was to be given by Mr. Bloomington to 
the visiting girls. He was to be assisted by 
several of the most inventive and original ma- 
trons, and it was looked forward to with much 
speculation and interest. 

It went without saying that it would be 
unique, and, in view of Mr. Bloomington’s great 
wealth, splendid. 

Nellie came one morning into the room where 
Eita, Stella, and Ethel were sitting. 

Eita, who had just finished reading a letter, 
looked up, smiling and blushing happily. 

‘‘Girls,” said she, “I invite you all to a wed- 
ding in April.” 

“Whose?” they inquired with one voice. 

“My very own.” 

“Oh! then you and Gerald have at last 
bridged the chasm! I’m so glad! I wish you 
all the happiness the world can afford!” ex- 
clmmed Ethel, in which wish Nellie and Stella 
joined very heartily, kissing the bride-to-be. 

‘‘Yes; I am to-day the happiest girl in the 
United States. It was very silly of me to break 
the engagement, but it has been worth it to dis- 
cover how much we really loved each other.” 

When the flow of talk had somewhat sub- 
sided, Nfellie said, 

“Here, girls, are the invitations to Mr. 


STELLA HOPE 


357 


Bloomington’s affair. It is to be a Fete Crys- 
tale/’ 

‘^And pray, wbat is that!” asked Pita. 

will read to you Mrs. Bennidge’s explana- 
tory remarks. ’ ’ And as she proceeded, they all 
exclaimed in delight, 

‘ ‘ Oh ! it will be like Fairyland ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Gorgeous ! ’ ’ 

‘‘Beautiful!” 

“Unique, indeed!” 

It was to be a skating tournament upon one 
of the lakes, and in all its appointments was to 
be magnificently complete. The lake was to be 
most brilliantly illuminated by means of many 
electric wires stretched above it, from which 
were to depend myriads of bulbs casting a sil- 
very light upon the skaters beneath. The 
skaters themselves representing the Frost 
People were to be clad in fancy costumes of 
white, flashing with the scintillating gleams of 
millions of crystal and silver jewels. 

There was to be a magnificent crystal Royal 
Car, drawn by six polar bears, whose shaggy 
fur was to glisten with ice-pendants, within 
whose mechanism would be concealed the small 
naphtha engines that were to form the motive 
power. A very full band was to furnish appro- 
priate music for the evolutions of the skaters, 
and after the latter a queen was to be chosen, a 
coronation to take place, followed by a tri- 
umphal procession around the circumference of 
the lake, headed by the car of the queen and her 
maids of honor, followed immediately by five 


358 


STELIA HOPE 


glittering male attendants, the whole company 
of skaters bringing up the rear, and the entire 
gorgeous cortege making such a brilliant spec- 
tacle for the non-participant guests, in their 
comfortable carriages around the shore, as 
should be long remembered. 

^‘Stella,” remarked Rita at the close of the 
reading, am afraid the St. Louis belles will 
have much merriment over our attempts at 
skating. ^ ’ Ethel had learned the previous win- 
ter. Will came in at that moment and the diffi- 
culty was stated. 

^ ^ Don ’t let that daunt you, ’ ’ said he. ‘ ‘ I will 
undertake to perfect you within the ten days 
preceding. We will go privately each day to 
some less frequented place, and at the expira- 
tion of the time I guarantee to produce three 
most accomplished patineuses/^ 

^^Will the ice be firm enough to support the 
weight of such a throng!’’ inquired Nellie, a 
trifle apprehensively. 

‘^Certainly, if the weather continues as cold 
as now. Thousands skate daily, but as the sur- 
face of the ice has been roughened by so many 
skates enough water will be turned on to freeze 
on its surface and render the ice perfectly 
smooth for that occasion.” 

There could have been no more propitious 
weather for the fete. Cold, crisp, and still, it 
did indeed look like an arctic festival of the 
Frost-Folk, as, to the blare of wild-strange 
music, and the rosy flashes of an artificial au- 


STELLA HOPE 


359 


rora borealis at some little distance shooting 
up in long streams toward the zenith, the skat- 
ers in their coruscating costumes, pair by pair, 
emerged from the lake-house and glided away 
gracefully upon the broad sheet of ice. 

One tremendous shout of admiration went up 
from the many spectators who watched with de- 
lighted eyes the intricate preconcerted evolu- 
tions, as circling, winding, wheeling and grace- 
fully swaying, in perfect time to the inspiring 
music, they moved with almost the precision of 
a military parade. 

When these evolutions had been concluded, a 
queen was selected, and, as many had prophe- 
sied, the choice fell upon Stella, and right royal 
did she look as mounted upon the throne of her 
car, with her maids-of-honor a little lower, and 
their especial knights immediately following 
with the whole convoy of skaters in the train, 
they started briskly off around the lake. 

Never had Weston’s heart beaten so tri- 
umphantly as on this occasion. All his am- 
bitious hopes and projects for Stella’s advance- 
ment in life, and all the homage of his own 
heart were at once gratified by this public ac- 
claim of her beauty and popularity ; and, on this 
night particularly, buoyed by the exhilaration 
of brisk exercise, the crisp air and the gorgeous- 
ness of the scene, fair Fortune reared her smil- 
ing face and beamed upon him. He now knew 
that she did not care for Everard, and the idea 
of Bloomington was preposterous. He knew 


360 


STELLA HOPE 


that he, himself, stood nearest the throne, and 
might before long be crowned with her love. 

The thought was ecstasy, and casting all 
doubt and despondency aside, he for the first 
time dared glory in the happiness before him. 

Alas! how often when one feels at the very 
acme of one’s desires and aspirations, there 
comes, as it were, a psycho-seismic shock that 
tumbles one’s air-castles to the ground. 

It was so now. Weston was so absorbed that 
his eyes were, metaphorically, turned inward, 
and insensibly he had lagged a little behind his 
skating companions. A crash, and a multiple 
shriek of feminine voices brought this fact like 
a fiash to his consciousness, and one fearful ex- 
planation came with lightning revelation to him. 

The ice had broken! 

And what had been the result? Wild with 
fear for the safety of Stella and the other occu- 
pants of the car, he dashed forward. Thank 
God! the car was all right, on ahead, and the 
young women safe. But there was a yawning 
black hole in the ice around which his four com- 
panions were standing with terrified faces and 
paralyzed limbs. 

^‘For Heaven’s sake, what’s to pay?” he 
cried as he came up. 

^^Miss Hope — she is down in there, and we 
are waiting for her to come up that we may 
rescue her ! ’ ’ 

‘‘Waiting?” shouted Weston fiercely. “She 
has slipped under the ice!^^ And throwing off 
his encumbering mantle, wild with agonizing 


4 


STELLA HOPE 361 

apprehension, he leaped headlong into the black 
aperture. 

The horror of the spectacle seemed to par- 
alyze every one. The flying seconds lengthened, 
seemingly, into hours, so unspeakable was the 
suspense. 

Great God!’^ burst at last from the lips of 
Everard, ‘Hhey will both be drowned!” 

Yet for others to plunge would not help, 
though many were ready to risk everything if 
only the victims might for an instant appear on 
the surface. But in the water whose depth no 
one knew, freezing at the very instant, what 
must be the result? for not even the most ex- 
pert diver, or swimmer, could hold out more 
than a few seconds under water in such a gelid 
condition. 

But Everard stepped to the brink of the 
chasm, and shouted aloud, 

^‘This way, Weston; come this way!” 

It was a timely call; for Weston, struggling 
desperately under the ice with Stella in his 
grasp, was bewildered and drowning, not know- 
ing which way to turn. 

The car had been going more rapidly when 
the ice broke, but the forward part had glided 
on to a firm position. Only the rear pait had 
careened and dipped just sufficiently to precipi- 
tate Stella from her elevated position ; and im- 
pelled by that backward impetus, she had been 
hurled a short distance under the ice in a depth 
of twelve or fifteen feet. The result of which 
was, that in rising she had impinged against the 


362 


STELLA HOPE 


thick floor above, and sank again ; and had not 
Weston, with a flash of inspiration, divined this, 
she would most certainly have been drowned. 
Again Everard called, ‘‘This way, Weston!’’ 
hoping almost against hope that he would hear 
and comprehend; and, if power were left him, 
swim in that direction. 

Fortunately, the sound did reach the drown- 
ing man, and a moment later he appeared in the 
open space, still retaining his hold on the queen 
of the fHe. 

The crowd that had till this moment looked 
on, dumb and helpless, now gave a joyful shout, 
and the encouraging sound gave a new impulse 
to Weston’s efforts. 

A chain of hands was formed and Everard, 
with great peril, leaned over the half-sub- 
merged edge and gripped Weston with his free 
hand and held him till the others lying upon the 
ice could draw himself and Stella upon the firm 
surface. Both were hurried to the Lake-house, 
and everything known to the science of resusci- 
tation was done for them that human skill could 
do. 


CHAPTER XXXIX 


Two years have elapsed; and one morning 
Stella is summoned to see a caller who has re- 
fused to send up his card. Much wondering, 
she enters the room, when a very heavily-beard- 
ed individual rises to meet her. He introduces 
himself, 

am Richard Stockton, my dear; your 
mother’s brother who, so many years ago, list- 
ened to the ^Call of the Wild’ and went West,” 
and he bent forward to kiss her ; but Stella im- 
pulsively threw her arms round his neck and re- 
turned his salute with a burst of gratitude. 

‘‘A thousand welcomes, my dear Uncle!” 

Richard Stockton was disconcerted. So long 
neglectful of his niece, he scarcely expected to 
be welcomed at all. Such an affectionate recep- 
tion was absolutely embarrassing. Stella hast- 
ened to add, 

^‘Your generosity in educating me, as well as 
all your kindness and munificence since, de- 
serves and has won my life-long gratitude. ’ ’ 

The visitor grew still more embarrassed. He 
blushed to the roots of his grizzled hair, as he 
shyly regarded his niece. 

‘‘Well now, child,” said he confusedly, “I 
might have done all that, it is true ; but the fact 
is, it never occurred to me. I have been for a 
number of years in the Klondyke, — ^not without 


364 


STELLA HOPE 


some success, — and hereafter I will do the hand- 
some thing by my sister’s daughter.” 

A hundred' little circumstances now flashed 
over Stella’s memory; and the real benefactor 
was revealed. A gush of sudden tears quite ter- 
rified her bewildered relative. She excused 
herself a moment and touched an electric but- 
ton. A servant immediately appeared, to whom 
she gave some direction in an undertone, and 
then returned to her uncle. 

At that moment a gentleman entered unan- 
nounced. With lashes still wet, but with a hap- 
py smile, she took the new-comer by the hand 
and advancing said. 

Permit me. Uncle Stockton, to present to 
you the noblest, best, and dearest man in all 
the world, my husband, William Willoughby, 
known to all our friends as ^ Weston^; and 
here,” as the servant returned, ‘4s your six- 
months ’-old namesake. Master Richard Stock- 
ton Willoughby.” 






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